The following application article is part of a larger set of articles
published under the title ISO 9000 in Scientific
Computing as a special supplement to Scientific Computing & Automation
magazine.
VARIAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
Al Lauer, Executive Vice President
ISO 9000 certification is not an option for companies with global markets,
it's a necessity. Companies that ignore it are building barriers between
themselves and potential customers, rather than building bridges.
At Varian, we are driving for world class quality in every product, every
process, and every person. The ISO series of standards melds perfectly with
our overall efforts. In fact, our chromatography, optical spectroscopy,
and nuclear magnetic resonance units are 9001 registered, and our other
business units intend to be certified as quickly as possible.
When the ISO effort was first announced, many employees cringed at the thought
of yet another quality initiative. Varian was already deeply involved in
meshing the company's Operational Excellence initiatives with the Malcolm
Baldridge National Quality Award criteria to create a unique continuous
improvement process. People at all levels of the company were involved,
but they were concerned that ISO would add a layer of bureaucracy.
But, as more and more business units achieved ISO certification, managers
and line employees alike began to see how neatly ISO fits into the total
quality drive. Essential to total quality management is the documentation
of processes, and that is exactly what ISO demands. With planning and foresight,
ISO certification requirements can easily be woven into other efforts, each
supporting the other.
Frankly, even if ISO certification had required an entirely separate effort,
Varian would have forged ahead with the certification process. It is essential
in today's global markets that universal standards be adopted so that all
businessmen and women, regardless of their language, will be able to translate
the word "quality" and know exactly what it means.