Abstract

SunPower Corporation's ISO 9001 recertification audit was getting close. Seeking to communicate the upcoming audit to employees across the organization, senior management of the quality function asked for an article to be included in the company newsletter.

The initial instinct that comes from wearing the quality expert hat was to write a technical article. Resisting that direction, we opted instead for a simple discussion that addresses basic questions about the purpose and value of ISO 9001. We published an article that is easy for all employees to understand, including those in the construction field, remote sales offices, service functions, and corporate office.

The version presented here has been edited for use by any organization that might be trying to communicate the ISO 9001 message to all staff, regardless of functional responsibilities.