Quality AssuranceStay ahead of the pack with ISO certification.

Consider your business's global reach. Now answer thefollowing question: What's your competitive advantage? Unless"quality" tops your list, you could be at a disadvantage,regardless of your product or service.

Adhering to the formal set of quality standards published adecade ago by the Geneva-based International Organization forStandardization (ISO) is becoming increasingly important for globalsuccess. "No one has made it a requirement, but it's thetrend," says Michael Ehsani, president of the AmericanInstitute of Consultants Quality Services Inc. in Houston. Everyyear, his business helps a handful of firms complete tedious andcomplicated ISO 9000, ISO 14000 and QS 9000 certificationprocedures, which have already been adopted by more than 98countries and organizations worldwide.