1 Introduction

摘要

1.1 Introduction Given how ubiquitous management standards such as ISO 9000 are today, it is hard to conceive that just a few decades ago the very concept of a management systems standard barely existed. When the quality management systems standard ISO 90001 was introduced around 1986, it did build on predecessor standards including the British Standard BS 5750 and various military specifications from the US Department of Defense. However, it is doubtful that many at the time expected ISO 9000 to end up being adopted by over 1.1 million organizations in over 180 countries, as has happened by December 2012.2 The diffusion of the environmental management systems standard ISO 14000 may not be quite as dramatic, but being adopted by over 280,000 organizations in over 160 countries by December 20123 is still a far greater adoption than many anticipated when the standard was first launched in 1997. Figures 1.1 and 1.2 show the global evolution of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certificates over time.