ISO 9000 is a family of standards that provides a framework for quality management systems. ISO 9001:2008 provides standardized requirements for quality management systems that can be applied to organizations of any size or industry. It works by laying out requirements for quality systems but allowing flexibility in how organizations implement them. Organizations check that their quality system is working effectively through internal audits, client audits, and certification by independent bodies. The standards are based on eight quality management principles including customer focus, leadership, and continual improvement.