The main trends of the 2013 ISO Survey of Certification demonstrates comprehensive growth for all seven ISO management systems standards covered by the survey, with a 4 % increase in numbers of certificates issued worldwide.
Up to the end of December 2013, at least 1,129,446 ISO 9001 certificates had been issued in 187 countries and economies, three more regions than in the previous year. The 2013 total of certificates issued represents an increase of 3 % (+32 459) over 2012.
ISO’s flagship standards (including ISO 9001) took off in the early 1990s and are the leading standard on quality management. ISO 9001:2008 gives the requirements for quality management systems. Certification to the standard is used in global supply chains to provide assurance about suppliers’ ability to satisfy quality requirements and to enhance customer satisfaction in supplier-customer relationships.
The top three countries for the total number of ISO 9001 certificates issued were China, Italy and Germany, while the top three for growth in the number of certificates in 2013 were Italy, India and the USA.
Read the ISO Survey 2013 Executive Summary here
With acknowledgment and thanks to ISO for the detail and content of this article.