ISO 9000 - Does it mean anything in Thailand?

[Bcgardener]

I own and run an SME in the Rayong area manufacturing equipment which we mainly export. In my many and varied searches for reliable sub contract companies I am always told that the company is "ISO 9000" certified. However here in Thailand this appears to mean nothing as most of these companies have ineffective quality control. Repeat orders with the same company always end up being of different quality and sometimes even changes in the materials used (without asking us , as the customer , first). I have now resigned myself to only dealing with foreign owned or managed companies, as it appears that what they say is what you get. even if they don't have "ISO 9000"

What do these Thai companies do, buy ISO 9000 certification over the counter including a small "consideration" for the auditor?