This paper attempts to identify empirically whether the certification of Quality Management System affects positively to firm performance using the sample sets of 200 SMEs in Korea who have adopted ISO 9000 majoring in the domestic markets as well as th

A considerable number of corporations seem to be deeply interested in Quality Management as a tool to improve competitive advantage of their products. Especially, under dynamic management circumstances recently, acquisition of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification for domestic corporations could have great impact on outcomes, and it becomes even more important for corporations depended largely on exports. However, it is not simply acquisition of ISO certification itself that gives dominant competitive advantage, and effects of acquiring ISO certification on every corporation are different. On this study, I would like to examine how purpose and goal for ISO 9000 influence on outcomes later on, and how CEO’s concern and the corporation’s capability could change the outcomes after all. As a result of the study, importation of ISO 9000 for the purpose of ensuring competitive advantage of products, standardization of quality management system, and benefits in the short run showed a positive affects on outcomes. Also, the relationship between purpose of acquiring ISO 9000 and outcomes became more connected as the manager’s interest increased, and a greater capability of a corporation caused a greater effect on improvement of productivity and image of the corporation.