An investigation of ISO 9000 adoption in Saudi Arabia

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the results from a survey on ISO 9000 certified manufacturing companies in Saudi Arabia. Design/methodology/approach - An empirical survey of 175 certified manufacturing firms in Saudi Arabia. This study is focused on the benefits achieved from ISO 9000 implementation, level of satisfaction with the standard, the anticipated steps after ISO 9000 implementation, factors influencing the choice of registration agencies and the associated problems with registration agencies. Findings - Certified firms in Saudi Arabia have performed well in their registration process and have benefited from ISO implementation. This could be due to the high level of interest in the area of quality, as most customers request quality or a certificate to prove existence of quality products/services. Research limitations/implications - For effective implementation of the standard in other organizations, the study recommended that organizations should plan carefully, measuring internal as well as external aspects and performing cost‐effective analysis of the implementation process. Also they should use gap analysis to assess their actual abilities against ISO requirements. When this study was performed, the number of certified organizations was still small, constraining more in depth research in this area. Originality/value - Adds to the body of knowledge concerning the ISO 9000 with particular interest on Saudi Arabia.