The American Society for Quality (ASQ) is now offering the latest version of the world’s most widely used standard for quality management systems (QMS), ISO 9001:2008. ASQ is the primary resource for the U.S. adopted version of this standard.
The new edition will replace the year 2000 version 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.
“By implementing a QMS, organizations can achieve consistent processes, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement,” said Roberto Saco, ASQ president. “In addition, QMS systems work to remove those processes that aren’t customer or ISO requirements, thus increasing efficiency.”
ASQ administered the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) that provided the U.S. position within the international development of the standard. Key facts about the new standard:
• ISO 9001:2008 is an amendment with no new or deleted requirements.
• Changes to the standard relate to one of the following categories: clarifications, improved 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.
Accessing the New Standard
As the primary resource in the United States for purchase of the U.S. adoption of the ISO 9001:2008 standard, ASQ is offering the new standard at a cost of $76 for members and $95 for nonmembers. The standard can be purchased via the ASQ Web site www.asq.org/iso9001 or by calling ASQ at 800-248-1946.
“Quality management systems add great value to an organization,” said Lorri Hunt, deputy task group leader for the international amendment to ISO 9001:2008. “It depends on the organization to be diligent on how they implement the standard to ensure they provide a product that the customer wants.”
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.
“You shouldn’t overlook the 2008 version just because it is an amendment,” concludes Hunt. “The clarifications could help you implement a requirement in an efficient manner or help you understand something your organization has struggled with in the past.”
In addition to the ISO 9001:2008 standard, ASQ offers an extensive body of knowledge on this topic that includes numerous books, journals, and training courses.
The American Society for Quality has been the world's leading authority on quality for more than 60 years. With more than 90,000 individual and organizational members, the professional association advances learning, quality improvement, and knowledge exchange to improve business results and to create better workplaces and communities worldwide. As a champion of the quality movement, ASQ offers technologies, concepts, tools, and training to quality professionals, quality practitioners and everyday consumers. ASQ has been the sole administrator of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award since 1991. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., ASQ is a founding partner of the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI), a prominent quarterly economic indicator, and also produces the Quarterly Quality Report.
