|
|
|
|
issue: December 2008 APPLIANCE Magazine
Quality & Testing Certification
Web Exclusive: Changing a Standard |
 Printable format
 Email this Article
 Search
 |
|
by Diane Ritchey, News Editor
ISO Standard ISO 9001:2008 has been recently revised and replaces the year 2000 version. |
The 2000 version is currently implemented in 170 countries worldwide. ISO 9001 is used to increase confidence in products and services offered by certified organizations and provide the framework for organizations to evaluate their quality management systems. The American Society for Quality (ASQ) administered the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) that provided the U.S. position within the international development of the standard.
The ISO 9001:2008 amendment provides clarifications, makes corrections, improve translation, and improve compatibility with ISO 14001 without adding or deleting requirements. The amendment should require only minor modifications to an organization’s quality management system based on the maturity of the quality management system, ASQ says. The ISO 9001:2008 amendment, ASQ says, offers an opportunity for organizations to review their existing quality management systems and make changes to improve their system, thereby adding additional value.
Key facts about the new standard include:
- ISO 9001:2008 is an amendment with no new or deleted requirements.
- Changes to the standard relate to one of the following categories: clarifications, improve compatibility with ISO 14001, consistency within the ISO 9000 family or improved translation.
- Compliance to ISO 9001:2008 will be verified on a surveillance or recertification audit.
According to Lorri Hunt, spokesperson for ASQ and deputy task group leader for the international amendment to ISO 9001:2008, “With the publication of the revision, companies certified to ISO 9001:2000 will have 24 months to transition to ISO 9001:2008. This transition period provides an opportunity for organizations to review their quality management systems and identify key requirements. While the ISO 9001:2008 is considered a refined version of the 2000 standard, companies can find value in reviewing the 2008 version.”
What does this change mean for any existing certification of ISO 9001:2000? “The International Accreditation Forum has published an official position on organizations migrating their existing certification to ISO 9001:2008,” Hunt says. “Organizations that are currently registered to ISO 9001:2000 will have 24 months after publication to update their certification to ISO 9001:2008. During the twenty-four month period, ISO 9001:2000 certificates are to be considered equal to ISO 9001:2008 certification. While this official position has been published, organizations currently certified to ISO 9001:2000 should receive information from their registrar on how they will specifically manage the change.”
|
|
|
|
