An Overview of ISO Standards and their Role in Improvement: ISO Certificates and Sites Covered, and by Industry Sectors for Businesses Operating in Albania

Abstract

Businesses all around the world, part of different industries such as manufacturing, services, construction, etc. operate nowadays in a changing and dynamic environment. To be successful, they build effective strategies and improve continuously and also try to find ways to be attractive to their customers. Considering that successful companies have their focus on continuous improvement and many of them have also objectives to grow and sell their products outside their country, over the years they have chosen to certify their systems, processes, products, or services in order to meet international standards. One of the most well-known international standards is the ISO family of standards which applies to various industries and management systems. Companies apply for ISO certification which is performed by independent certification bodies (not by ISO itself), and by earning ISO certification it demonstrates the commitment of these companies toward quality, environment, food safety, etc. and best practices followed. Even Albanian companies have applied and earned ISO certifications especially the last twenty-five years starting from low numbers and constantly increasing the numbers of these certifications and benefiting from this process. In this research paper, through the use of literature and interviews directed mainly to the quality managers, part of Quality Departments or Sectors at businesses operating in different industries/sectors in Albania, the aim is to show an overview of ISO standards and their role in improvement, ISO certificates and Sites covered by ISO, and ISO by industry sectors for businesses operating in Albania, to analyze and develop critical thinking regarding this important and sensitive issue.