New Mexico Offers Classes for Companies Aspiring to Earn ISO 9001 Certification (Demo)

An article published last July 11, 2013 on Albuquerque Business First reported that the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD), in cooperation with the New Mexico Manufacturing Extension, is now offering ISO 9001 certification classes. Dubbed “New Mexico 9000,” this programs aim to help companies based in the state to successfully earn the coveted certification. The premise is that certified companies can compete with other certified economic players on the same field. The ISO 9001 is an international quality management and quality standard that was first created around 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland. Simply put, this standard lays down the basic requirements for manufacturing, service, trade, and communications within a company to match global standards. With an ISO 9001 certification, a company is recognized as having met the minimum requirements for quality and management, and can adequately participate in international trade. The ISO certification is a universally recognized mark, and many professional organizations across the world honor it. The article even drops the names of several influential (and decidedly powerful) groups, like the National Nuclear Security Administration, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Defense as entities that only deal with ISO-certified contractors or suppliers. It’s short of saying that a company is hardly worth a second look without the certification. Earning an ISO certificate involves third party certification bodies, such as International Standards Authority Inc. These groups send auditors to examine and assess aspiring companies if the organizations pass ISO standard’s requirements.. Once the standards have been met without compromise, the certification body can then award the certificate to the company. New Mexico’s classes help companies identify which components in their management need revising so that it can meet the strict requirements of the ISO 9001 requirements. There wouldn’t be a class if the certification was easy to earn, hence, the program addresses each company’s problems directly. It’s believed that with certification, local New Mexico businesses can enjoy financial growth and improve employement importunities in the State. The government also hopes that this program will aid in revitalizing the local economy. An ISO 9001 certification proves that a company has what it takes to serve the global market without sacrificing its high quality or its genuine service. However, businesses will first need to pass the rigid audits to earn the stamp. It may sound daunting and hard to accomplish (indeed, many have tried and failed), but once earned, a company will be well-respected by clients and competitors alike.