It's time to upgrade quality management systems

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 10, 2002

Matt Fielding looks at some of the key changes that might affect companies in upgrading their quality management systems to the latest ISO9001:2000 standard.

The effective implementation of a quality management system can focus on customer satisfaction and reduce internal waste and identify opportunities for improvement.

This is the foundation of the ISO9001:2000 standard and TUV International UK's practical business sense approach.

The company says its goal is to team up with customers and help companies achieve a certified quality system that is timely and cost effective.

TUV International UK has experienced, professional auditors that can make registration attainable and a reality.

ISO9001:2000 has been completely restructured and is focused on system processes rather than specific elements that were the basis of the previous version of the 1994 standard.

The transition between the 1994 standard and the 2000 standard is under way and the final date where organisations will no longer be able to maintain registration to the 1994 standard is December 2003.

The twenty elements of the ISO9001:1994 have been restructured into four major clauses of the ISO9001:2000.

This was done to provide a better more logical sequencing of the requirements and intended to make it easier to apply.

The standard now comprises the following chapters: Clause 4.0 - Quality management system requirements; Clause 5.0 - Management responsibility; Clause 6.0 - Resource management; Clause 7.0 - Product realisation; and Clause 8.0 - Measurement analysis and improvement.

TUV International UK is offering pre-audits to the new version of the standard, ISO9001:2000 to any customer that would like to take advantage of this service.

This can be performed at the time of the surveillance audit or as a separate audit.

The gap analysis will provide a comprehensive report describing in detail the findings of the audit.

Any company that does not convert to the new standard before December 2003 will have there current registration to ISO9001/2 1994 withdrawn and will have to complete the entire registration process before a new certificate can be issued.

Customers transitioning to the ISO9001:2000 can create a process map to understand customer requirements.

This can be mapped out in a flow chart and will identify the key processes within the organisation: create a process map identifying key activities; determine who the customers are; understand the needs and expectations of the customers; and check that the ISO9001:2000 requirements are satisfied.

TUV Rheinland can help clients to transition to the new standard in easy Manageable steps by covering particular parts of the standard during surveillance audits until the point where the system is fully implemented - then upgrading the certificate to ISO9001:2000.

This is done along with the client by establishing a schedule and still maintaining the current certificate to the ISO9001/2 1994 version of the standard.

ISO9001:2000 provides an opportunity for many organisations to examine their current quality management systems.

In clause 4.2 the standard refers to "Documentation necessary to ensure that the organisations processes are effectively planned, operated and controlled".

The standard also requires explicitly that six procedures be documented.

It is also highly recommended that the ISO9004:2000 be used as a reference guideline whilst implementing the new standard.