ISO 9001 Standard - ISO 9001:2008 Standards

History Of ISO 9001 Standards

History Of ISO 9001 Standards

Pre ISO 9000
During World War II, there were quality problems in many British industries such as munitions, where bombs were exploding in factories during assembly. The solution adopted to address these quality problems required factories to document their manufacturing procedures and to prove by record-keeping that the procedures were being followed. The standard was BS 5750, and it was known as a management standard because it specified not what to manufacture, but how the manufacturing process was to be managed. In 1987, the British Government persuaded the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to adopt BS 5750 as an international standard. The international standard was named ISO 9000.

ISO 9000: 1987 Version
ISO 9000:1987 had the same structure as the British Standard BS 5750, with three ‘models’ for quality management systems, the selection of which was based on the scope of activities of the organisation:
• ISO 9001:1987 Model for quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and servicing was for companies and organisations whose activities included the creation of new products
•ISO 9002:1987 Model for quality assurance in production, installation, and servicing had basically the same material as ISO 9001 but without covering the creation of new products.
•ISO 9003:1987 Model for quality assurance in final inspection and test covered only the final inspection of finished product, with no concern for how the product was produced.
ISO 9000:1987 was also influenced by existing U.S. and other Defense Standards (MIL SPECS), and so was well-suited to manufacturing. The emphasis tended to be placed on conformance with procedures rather than the overall process of management—which was likely the actual intent.

Quality Planning

Whenever the term “product” is used within the ISO 9001 standard, it refers to both tangible goods and intangible services. The ISO 9001 standard is meant to be generic which means that it is suitable for all kinds of organization, whether commercial or otherwise. The purpose of the quality management system model that is being propagated by the standard is the fulfillment of customer requeirements and expectations in order to induce high levels of customer satisfaction. An unsatisfied customer is essentially a customer whose requirements or needs, and expectations of the level of services being granted upon him/her have not been met. We are all customers because we buy products all the time. So we know what it means to be a dissatisfied customer. The common reaction is to never to go back to that seller and look for other alternatives. A successful organization is one which understands what it takes to meet customer requirements in order to satisfy their needs and expectations. A specific process is thus necessary to resolve any customer complaint or dispute. This process should be geared towards satisfying the customer’s needs and expectations. The parameters of this process should be referenced from the terms of the sale and purchase. This is why it is necessary to review the customer’s requirements before committing to the sales contract. It is necessary that the customer understands what he/she is paying for and it is equally necessary for the organization to understand what it is supposed to deliver. When your organization has these processes in place, then the only thing to do next is to continually measure the effectiveness and subsequently take actions to continually improve the whole process.

Quality Standards ISO 9001:2008

Quality Standard were developed to assist companies control quality and maintain a high standard of customer satisfaction. Quality has become a lot more than that, quality standards can assist your company with good management practices, reduce risk and increase profit margins.
A good quality system should not be written just to satisfy the accreditation process, but should be written with the company’s business practices in mind and to enhance procedures and policies to ensure sound operation.
The principles of the ISO Quality System can be applied to every company, regardless of its size, type or industry. Having a good quality system in place will ensure that your products, services are of the highest standards, your customers are happy and the future of your organisation is heading in the right direction.
What is ISO?ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, based in Switzerland it was established in 1947 to develop common international standards. It has members from over 140 countries worldwide, comprising of .
ISO published its first standards in 1987 and revised in 1994. ISO 9000 refers to the set of quality management standards. The 1994 standards are known as ISO9001. A new set of standards were released in November 2001, these are known as ISO 9001:2000. The transition from an existing ISO 9001 standard to a ISO 2000 standard can be achieved relatively easily. If you are starting a new Quality Management System, it would be best to use the new ISO 2000 standards.
What is the difference between ISO 9000 and ISO 14000?ISO 9000 is primarily concerned with quality management. In plain English this means anything that affects a product or service required by a customer and what that organisation does to ensure that a certain standard of quality is achieved and maintained.
ISO 14000 is primarily concerned with the environment. In plain English, what an organisation does to manage the impact of its activities on the environment.