ISO 9000 certification and quality management in Spain: results of a national survey

The increasing demand of mechanisms making easier the choice of a provider, both in the domestic and global markets, has contributed to ISO 9000 certification possession becoming a requisite for the development of commercial relations. The present article is based upon the results of an empirical research in which the effectiveness and reach of ISO 9000 certification is studied at a multi‐sector level in Spain. Mail surveys were carried out on 3,864 certificated organizations, and 749 (19.4 per cent) responded. Results indicated that certification helps in terms of being a management tool, a source of competitive advantages and its potential to stimulate the company transition towards total quality management.