The ISO 9000 standards were created by the International Organization for Standardization to provide internationally accepted quality management standards. They originated from British standards developed during World War II to control quality in munitions factories. ISO 9001 was first published in 1987 and updated in 2000 and 2008. It provides guidelines for companies to document quality processes and meet customer expectations. Many large companies have become ISO 9001 certified to facilitate international trade and meet customer and government requirements.