Establishing quality systems in research institutes: a progress report

Abstract

In Europe quality systems have been adopted successfully in many key sectors. Particularly, the ISO 9000 series of standards is applied widely. Research institutes are now showing an interest in setting up a system. It is an opportunity for them to not only to improve their performance but also to reach a quality label. Discusses the successful establishment of a total quality system at the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering, Aachen, Germany. In April 1996, it obtained an ISO 9001 certificate, one of the first laboratories to do so. Presents the results of the project to show that research institutes can benefit from a quality system adjusted to their needs.

Citation

Pfeifer, T. and Wunderlich, M. (1997), "Establishing quality systems in research institutes: a progress report", The TQM Magazine, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 221-227. https://doi.org/10.1108/09544789710169019