Total quality management, the ISO 9002 protocol and reconditioned diagnostic imaging equipment

This paper examines the ISO 9002 program as it relates to reconditioned diagnostic medical imaging equipment, a commodity with a burgeoning domestic and international market. ISO 9002 certification plays an increasingly important role as customers continue to expand their acquisition of such equipment. The ISO 9002 program provides end-users with the confidence that the equipment will function properly, mitigating risk. The certification and program maintenance process and the interplay between management and labor are explored with emphasis on the ultimate beneficiary of an aggressively implemented program-the patient.