ISO9000frequentlyaskedquestions.docx

ISO9000-FrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs)ThislistofFrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs)hasbeenupdatedafterpublicationoftheISO9000:2000familyofInternationalStandards.InputhasbeenobtainedfromexpertsandusersoftheISO9000standards,expressedduringseminarsandpresentationsaroundtheworld.Thelistwillbereviewedandupdatedonaregularbasistomaintainitsaccuracy,andtoincludenewquestionswhereappropriate.Itisintendedthatthislistwillalsoprovideagoodsourceofinformationfornewusersofthestandards.Whywerethestandardsrevised?Themajorreasonsfortheyear2000revisionsofthestandardsinclude: emphasizingtheneedtomonitorcustomersatisfaction, meetingtheneedformoreuser-friendlydocuments, assuringconsistencybetweenqualitymanagementsystemrequirementsandguidelines, promotingtheuseofgenericqualitymanagementprinciplesbyorganizations,andenhancementoftheircompatibilitywithISO14001.Inaddition,theyear2000revisionoftheISO9000standardsgivesuserstheopportunitytofurtherincreasevaluetotheiractivitiesandtoimprovetheirperformancecontinuallybyfocusingonthemajorprocesseswithintheorganization.Extensivesurveyshavebeenperformedonaworldwidebasistounderstandtheneedsofallusersofthequalitymanagementsystemstandards.Thenewrevisionstakeintoaccountpreviousexperiencewithqualitymanagementsystemstandards(1987and1994editions)andemerginginsightsintogenericmanagementsystems.Theyresultinacloseralignmentofqualitymanagementsystemswiththeneedsoforganizationsandbetterreflectthewayorganizationsruntheirbusinessactivities.ISO'srulesofprocedure(theISO/IECDirectives)alsospecifythatstandardsbeperiodicallyrevisedtoensurethatthosestandardsarecurrentandsatisfytheneedsoftheglobalcommunity.FAQOOlfMarch2001Whoisresponsibleforrevisingthestandards?TherevisionprocessistheresponsibilityofISOTechnicalCommittee(TC)176andisconductedonthebasisofconsensusamongqualityandindustryexpertsnominatedbyIS。Memberbodies,andrepresentingallinterestedpartiesFAQ002,March2001Willtheyear2000revisionaffectmyorganization'scurrentqualitysystemregistration/certification?Yes.ThestrategyadoptedbyyourorganizationtomeettherequirementsofISO9001:2000shouldincludeanappropriatetimingforupgradingyourorganization'sregistration/certification.Itisexpectedthattheprocessofupgradingregistration/certificationwillbeasmoothtransitionthatisincorporatedintotheapplicableRegistrationorCertificationBody'sregularauditroutine.TheIntemationalACCTeditrtionForum(IAFhasalreadyestablishedasetofguidelinesforCertificationBodies/Registrarstofollow,andthisincludesatransitionperiodofuptothreeyearsafterthe15thofDecember2000.Youareadvisedtocontactyourregistration/certificationbodytonegotiateasuitabletransitiontimeframefortheassessmentofyourownorganization.FAQ003,March2001Howmuchisthetransitiontothenewstandardsgoingtocost?OneofthegoalsofISO/TC176istoproducestandardsthatwillminimizeanypotentialcostsduringasmoothtransition.Anyadditionalcostsmaybeconsideredasavalue-addedinvestment.ThecostofimplementinganynecessarychangesinordertomeetthenewrequirementsofISO9001:2000willvaryfromoneorganizationtoanother,dependingonvariousfactorssuchastheactualstateofimplementationofthequalitymanagementsystem,thesizeandcomplexityoftheorganization,theattitudeandcommitmentofthetopmanagement,etc.Itisexpectedthatthebenefitstoallorganizationswilloutweigheventualcostsassociatedwiththetransition.Regardingthecostsofupgradingthecertification,theIntemationalACcTeditatiOnFonJm's(IAF)guidelinesprovidefortheincorporationofauditstothenewstandardintosurveillancevisitsforexisting(1994)certifications,whereverpossible.FAQ004,March2001Wherecanmyorganizationobtaincopiesoftherevisedstandards?CopiesoftherevisedstandardsmaybepurchasedfromNationalStandardsBodies.Manycountriesmayhavetheseavailableinlocal-languageversions(seeISOOnlineforalistingofmemberbody,i.e.nationalstandardsbodies,contactdetails)FAQ005,March2001WherecanIobtaininformationontherevisedstandards?ThereareanumberofsourcesofinformationontherevisionofISO9000qualitymanagementsystemstandards,including,ofcourse,thiswebsite,whichcarriesdetailedinformationontherevisedstandardsandisupdatedonaregularbasis.ISOCentralSecretariatinSwitzerlandisalsomaintainingawebsiteatthatcarriesgeneralinformationontherevisedstandards.YourNationalStandardsBodyshouldbeabletoprovidecopiesoftherevisedstandardsandregistrarscertificationbodieswillbeabletoprovideguidanceontransitionalregistrationarrangements(seetheISOwebsiteforalistingofthememberbodies,i.e.thenationalstandardsbodies,contactdetails).FAQ006,March2001Wheredoesmyorganizationgoifitneedsclarificationorinterpretationoftherevisedstandards?Thestartingpointforanyindividualrequestforaninterpretationshouldbewiththeenquirer'snationalstandardsbody.ISOcentralsecretariatandTC176cannotacceptdirectrequestsfromindividualsforinterpretationsoftheISO9000standards.Instead,ISO/TC176hasestablishedaWorkingGroupforinterpretation,withaformalproceduretoprovideanswerstothequestionsthatareforwardedbythenationalstandardbodies.(SeetheISOwebsiteforalistingofthememberbodies,i.e.thena