Benchmark: The Cost/Benefit of ISO Registration

A comparision of the cost of getting an ISO registration to the annual savings and revenues it generates.

By Jill Andresky Fraser | 
 

Getting ISO registration is time-consuming and expensive, but a survey of 620 ISO-registered companies of all sizes revealed that although the initial investment is hefty, becoming ISO registered results in impressive annual savings derived from improved efficiency and quality.

Sales volume Average Average cost

of companies annual savings per company*

Less than $11 million $25,000 $62,300

$11 million-$25 million $77,000 $131,000

$25 million-$50 million $69,900 $149,700

$50 million-$100 million $130,000 $188,800

$100 million-$200 million $195,000 $208,700

$200 million-$500 million $227,000 $321,700

*includes onetime internal, external, and registrar costs

Source: "Quality Systems Update," Deloitte & Touche, Fairfax, Va., 1993.

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