iParenting Media Awards has attained ISO 9001:2000 Certification. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world’s largest developer of standardization regulations and ISO 9001:2000 is an internationally recognized standard for quality assurance. Only a fraction of the companies that attempt ISO certification succeed. The iParenting Media Awards program is the only product evaluation service with an awards program of its kind to earn this prestigious status.

In order to achieve ISO 9001 status, the iParenting Media Awards program went through a rigorous and thorough evaluation process whereby all of the program’s business practices, documents and systems were scrutinized and appraised by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). Upon determination of satisfaction of all ISO 9000 standards, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. then registered the program to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to ISO 9000 Series Standards for Quality. Read more.

1. What is ISO 9001:2000?
   ISO stands for International Organization of Standardization. ISO is an international body that sets more than 13,000 international standards for business and governmental agencies, including the well-known ISO 9000-quality assurance standard. The standards are used by organizations around the world to guarantee quality products and services as well as customer satisfaction. Its requirements for continuous improvement ensure that ISO certified organizations are constantly trying to satisfy your needs to the best of their ability and maintain and improve their quality management systems.

   In complying with ISO 9001:2000 standards, each company must say what it does through documentation and processes, do what it says through action, and prove it to an independant, objective third party. The iParenting Media Awards program is the only evaluation service with an awards program in the parenting industry that has done just that. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. audited the entire iParenting Media Awards program and registerd it to the ISO 9000 Series for Quality Assurance.

2. How long has ISO been in business?
   ISO has been establishing standards since 1906. The ISO 9000 Series for Quality Assurance was introduced in 1993 and has become the most widely-known, and most difficult to achieve, ISO standard.

3. How often are you audited?
   We are audited by Underwriters Laboratories annually to prove compliance with the ISO 9000 standards. However, iParenting Media is constantly striving to improve our system and increase customer satisfaction through our unparalleled customer support and constant self-evaluation.

4. Why is an ISO 9000 certified system important to me?
   The ISO 9000 certification gives you assurances that we are doing exactly what we say we are doing. Your product is being shipped out to three different reviewer sites: an expert, a group setting and a family for review. Those reviewers are filling out extensive questionnaires after thoroughly using the product. After being reviewed by the Executive Committee, award status is being determined based on iParenting Media Awards proprietary criteria.

5. Are other award systems ISO 9000 certified?
   To date, no other award system in the parenting industry has an ISO certification.

6. How will it help me as an award-winner?
   The ISO certification lets manufacturers and consumers alike know that we take the evaluation process seriously. We have a responsibility to our readers and customers to consider all aspects of a product before we can recommend it. When we declare a product a winner, it means we believe it is a high quality product. Additionally, it increases the equity of the award. ISO is recognized internationally as the standards of excellence. Many companies will only work with ISO certified companies.

7. Where can I learn more about ISO?
   To learn more about ISO, visit www.iso.org.

8. What is iParenting Media Awards' mission?
   Read our mission statement here.