The International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9001:2008 series describes standards for a QMS (Quality Management Systems) addressing the principles and processes surrounding the design, development and delivery of a general product or service. Organizations can participate in a continuing certification process to ISO 9001:2008 to demonstrate their compliance with the standard, which includes a requirement for continual (i.e. planned) improvement of the QMS.
(ISO 9000:2005 provides information the fundamentals and vocabulary used in quality management systems. ISO 9004:2000 provides guidance on improvement methods. Neither of these standards can be used for certification purposes as they provide guidance, not requirements).
