ISO Certification: The Trend and Scope from Pakistani Industry´s Perspective

This paper discusses the Trend and Scope of ISO Certification from Pakistani Industry´s perspective from both literature and survey based evidence. Pakistani Industry is a novice in the trend towards quality certifications acquisition and its deployment of quality management practices. At current stage organizations mostly engaged in International trade are acquiring and deploying these practices in their organizations as a prerequisite from their foreign buyers and for their survival in international competition. In this paper an overview of ISO certification and its history in Pakistan, Triggers for ISO certification acquisition in Pakistani Industry, Government policies towards certification acquisition, ISO certification bodies and their supervisory bodies currently operating in Pakistan, certification acquisition trend in Pakistan industry sector wise and a past and current survey based comparison regarding deployment of TQM practices in these ISO accredited organizations has been discussed. Some humble recommendations have also been proposed to enhance current performance levels