(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, organizations, educational institutions, and advanced technology centers that can provide technical assistance to firms that wish to become ISO-registered;

     (c) Assemble and maintain information on Washington firms which have received ISO registration;

     (d) Undertake other activities it deems necessary to execute this section;

     (e) Survey appropriate sectors to determine the level of interest in receiving ISO-9000 certification and coordinate with the program;

     (f) Establish a mechanism for businesses to make self-assessments of relative need to become ISO-9000 certified;

     (g) Assist and support nonprofit organizations, and other organizations, currently providing education, screening, and certification training; and

     (h) Coordinate the Washington program with other similar state, regional, and federal programs.

     (2) For the purposes of this section, "ISO-9000" means the series of standards published in 1987, and subsequent revisions, by the international organization for standardization for quality assurance in design, development, production, final inspection and testing, and installation and servicing of products, processes, and services.

     (3) For the purposes of this section, registration to the American national standards institute/American society for quality control Q90 series shall be considered ISO-9000 registration.

[1994 c 140 § 2.]

NOTES:

     *Reviser's note: The business assistance center and its powers and duties were terminated June 30, 1995. RCW 43.31.083, 43.31.085, 43.31.087, and 43.31.089 were repealed by 1993 c 280 § 81, effective June 30, 1996.

     Findings -- Intent -- 1994 c 140: "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 the United Kingdom and several thousand in Europe have become registered 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 worldwide acceptance by over sixty nations 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, as well as other quality systems, may also help Washington companies improve quality. However, many small businesses know little about the standards or how registration is achieved.

     It is the intent of the legislature that the department of community, trade, and economic development encourage and assist state businesses to adopt ISO-9000 and other quality systems as part of the state's strategy for global industrial competitiveness." [1994 c 140 § 1.]

     Effective date -- 1994 c 140: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1994." [1994 c 140 § 4.]