Bodiform Toes the Mark to Become ISO Certified.

HIALEAH, Fla. -- HIALEAH, Fla., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Bodiform Inc. of Hialeah recently completed a program to become ISO 9001-2000 certified, according to an announcement made today by Maria Alfano, director of operations for the Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

"Getting ISO 9001:2000 certification means Bodiform will be better able to compete on an international basis and gain access to a large pool of potential new customers," Alfano explained. "I congratulate everyone at Bodiform who was involved in the certification process."

ISO stands for "International Standards Organization," and certification signifies the company has met a rigorous set of internationally observed standards.

While the process to become ISO certified entailed a lot of hard work, time and effort, it was definitely worth it, according to Anthony Paisley, Bodiform's Director of Apparel Manufacturing.

"By implementing an ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System, we have been able to monitor and evaluate the impact that defects were having on our processes and take corrective action to reduce those defects," Paisley said.

In fact, the ISO process allowed Bodiform to reduce defects by 50 percent, saving the company about $150,000 a year. "The total investment in becoming ISO certified had a 3:1 return on investment during the first year," Paisley said. "And I honestly believe the process has given our management team the tools to better manage and continuously improve Bodiform."

A division of Capezio/Ballet Makers, Bodiform employs 125 people and has been in Hialeah since 1979. Bodiform specializes in using specialized stretch fabrics to manufacture dancewear, body wear, costumes and accessories for all ages. The company's products are used in dance schools and professional theaters and dancewear is designed to satisfy beginners to professionals.