ISO 9001:2000
  • ISO 9001:2000 is primarily concerned with 'quality management' or in simple language, those features of a product or service, which are required by the customer.
  • Both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 require organisations to continually improve their performance in respect of quality and environmental management. This could be described as the way an organisation goes about its work and manages its processes in order to achieve a quality product or service.
  • ISO 9001:2000 will therefore ensure that through efficient and effective management of an organisation's processes, that everything has been done to satisfy the customer's quality requirements and achieve customer satisfaction.
ISO 9001:2000 has evolved from the previous ISO 9000:1994 standards which in turn, were based on BS 5750:1987.

Unlike the previous 1994 edition which separated ISO 9002 (Manufacturing) and ISO 9001 (Design), the current standard has combined these two standards into one.

In order to differentiate, it provides under section 7, permissible exclusions enabling an organisation to justifiably exclude themselves from Design or other requirements as applicable.

The standard can be adapted to any size of company large or small, manufacturing or service industry. It is also less proceduralised requiring only 6 mandatory procedures:
  • Control of Documents
  • Control of Records
  • Internal Audits
  • Control of Non-Conformance
  • Corrective Action
  • Preventive Action
Also being more ‘process-based’, it now requires an organisation to identify its key/core processes and their interaction in order to facilitate their measurement, conduct analysis and continually improve.

In essence, ISO 9001:2000 provides an organisation with a common-sense approach to the management of its business.

It ensures consistency and improvement which in turn provides products and services that satisfy customer requirements.

As an International Standard, ISO 9001:2000 is the most commonly used for providing a framework for an effective QMS (Quality Management System).

The accompanying slide show simplifies its definition. Press [  HERE ]


ISO 14001:2004
  • Both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are known as generic management systems i.e. the same standards can be applied to any organisation, large or small.
  • ISO 14001 is primarily concerned with 'environmental management' which in plain language means what an organisation does to minimise harmful effects on the environment.
  • Both ISO 9001 & 14001 have a high degree of compatibility and can be implemented either side by side or as an integrated management system.
  • In brief, ISO 14001 enables an organisation to control the impact of its activities, products or services and continually improve its environmental performance.
  • The intention therefore is to provide a framework for an overall strategic approach to an organisations environmental policy, plans and actions.

Contacts

Email to:  paul@iso9001consultant.co.uk

Quserve Quality Consultancy
35 Ensbury Close, Short Heath, Willenhall, W Mids   WV12 4DN, UK
Telephone 01902 606934 - or - Mobile 07796 963605

Last updated: July 20th, 2005.
Published by:  Lichfield Web Design