ISO 13485 is an international quality management standard for medical device companies. It is based on ISO 9001 and specific to ensuring product safety and effectiveness. Key requirements include effective quality management systems, management responsibility, resource management, product realization, measurement and improvement. Companies must implement ISO 13485 through a process approach focusing on customer requirements, continual improvement, and meeting regulatory requirements. Successful implementation requires support from top management and a focus on processes rather than just procedures.