ISO 9004:2000, refer to the "consistent pair with ISO 9001", provides management with guidelines for continual improvement. The International Standard ISO 9004 assists organizations in understanding, implementing and advancing ISO 9001:2000 in pursuing continual performance improvement.

ISO 9004:2000 can be an valuable tool for reviewing and advancement of the quality management system concurrent with the organization's objectives for performance improvement. It takes an the amorphous phrase "continual improvement" into pragmatic components enhancing the organization's ability to compete (and manage risk). To benefit from from ISO 9004:2000 is to study it in the light of your organization's operational and nature of your business.

Note - Where does "Continual Improvement" comes from? It derives from ISO 14001, wherein "continual improvement" explicitly is to achieve through specific objectives and targets... I n the light of ISO 9001:2000 "continuous improvement" is equivalent term and concept as to "continual improvement", in the pursuit that today is... better than yesterday.