Effects and Benefits from ISO Certification in Albanian Businesses

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of ISO standards implementation in Albanian companies, through evidence of expected benefits and the actual ones at the framework of a company. The analysis is based on a theoretical overview of the advantages and results expected to derive from the certification, according to the abundant literature of the last decade. From the other side, the empirical study of a group of Albanian companies ISO certified constitutes the background of the real analysis that indicates the achieved results from the companies’ viewpoint. There are done efforts to assess and measure the quantitative and qualitative contribution of standards on the performance of manufacturing and service companies. Further on, the paper verifies that all companies do report benefits from the certification, although they are of variable types. The paper concludes with some suggestions about measuring of certification’ effects on the performance of companies, as well as revealing of factors that can contribute to a higher profitability of Albanian companies during the implementation of ISO 9000 normative. The authors intend to bring a modest contribution and encourage further studies on the field, closely related to the characteristics of Albanian businesses.