Many companies are becoming ISO certified because of customer requests and because of the need to compete

Question:

Many companies are becoming ISO certified because of customer requests and because of the need to compete in the global marketplace.
a. Why do you think customers are insisting that suppliers meet ISO 9001:2000 standards?
b. Does meeting ISO 9001:2000 standards mean that a supplier's products or services are superior to those of competitors? Elaborate on what conformance to the standards means.
c. Why would the fact that a supplier's industry is moving toward ISO 9001:2000 motivate the supplier to seek registration?
d. How would complying with ISO 9001:2000 help a company improve quality?