Title: A thorough analysis of ISO 9000 contribution to small and medium size enterprises: a comparison with large enterprises

Authors: Katerina Gotzamani

Addresses: Dept. of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, Egnatia St., 156, P.O. Box 1591, 540 06, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an empirical study on ISO 9000 contribution to certified Small and Medium-size Enterprises (SMEs) in the Greek industry. The paper starts with a summary of literature review on the particular problems and opportunities related to ISO 9000 certification and TQM adoption in the SMEs context. Then, the paper presents the results of an empirical survey in SMEs in the Greek industry. The survey reveals the motives that lead SMEs to ISO 9000 certification, their performance before and after certification in key quality management areas and the overall benefits that they achieved from ISO 9000 certification. The results in SMEs are then compared with those in larger enterprises that participated in the study, revealing interesting results about their differences and similarities. Finally, based on the results of the survey and the findings in literature review, the author discusses how SMEs should proceed after ISO 9000 certification.

Keywords: small and medium-size enterprises; SMEs; ISO 9000; quality standards; total quality management; TQM; performance measurement; empirical survey; Greece.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2004.004869

International Journal of Management Practice, 2004 Vol.1 No.1, pp.41 - 56

Published online: 07 Jul 2004 *

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