S-1226.4 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5698
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators Bluechel, Skratek, Sheldon, Williams and Erwin
Read first time 02/10/93. Referred to Committee on Trade, Technology & Economic Development.
AN ACT Relating to assisting companies to adopt ISO-9000 standards; adding a new section to chapter 43.31 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that since the publication by the international organization for standardization of its ISO-9000 series of quality systems standards, more than twenty thousand facilities in Britain and several thousand in Europe have become certified in the standards. By comparison, currently only about four hundred United States companies have adopted the standards. The international organization for standardization is a Geneva-based organization founded in 1947 to promote standardization with a view to facilitating trade.
The legislature further finds that the growing world-wide acceptance of the ISO-9000 series of quality systems standards, including adoption by the twelve nations of the European Community, means that more Washington companies will need to look at the adoption of ISO-9000 to remain competitive in global markets. Adoption of ISO-9000 may also help Washington companies improve quality. However, many small businesses know little about the standards or how certification is achieved.
It is the intent of the legislature that the department of trade and economic development encourage and assist state businesses to adopt ISO-9000 as part of the state's strategy for industrial competitiveness.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.31 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The department, through its business assistance center, shall assist companies seeking to adopt ISO-9000 quality standards. The department shall:
(a) Prepare and disseminate information regarding ISO-9000;
(b) Assemble and maintain information on public and private sector individuals and organizations which can provide technical assistance to firms that wish to become ISO-certified;
(c) Assemble and maintain information on firms which have received ISO certification; and
(d) Undertake other activities it deems necessary to execute this section.
(2) For the purposes of this section, "ISO-9000" means the series of standards published in 1987 by the international organization for standardization for the design, development, production, final inspection and testing, and installation and servicing of products, processes, and services.
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