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An Introduction to the ISO 9000 Standards

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The development of ISO 9000 standards

ISO formed Technical Committee 176 (ISO/TC176) in 1979 to bring continuity to the increasing international scope of quality assurance standards. Two subcommittees were formed. The first, SC1, addressed common terminology and developed ISO 8402: Quality-Vocabulary. The second subcommittee developed quality systems standards. The work of SC2 resulted in the ISO 9000 series, published in 1987 (revised 1994).

In December 2000, the ISO 8402 standard was replaced by a new standard, ISO 9000. This new standard also incorporates portions of ISO 9000-1. At the same time, two other standards were introduced as part of an effort to reduce the number of standards in the ISO 9000 family - ISO 9001 and ISO 9004.

Meet the ISO 9000 Family

The list below provides a brief introduction to the ISO 9000 family.

Part of the latest revision effort was to combine the elements of ISO 9001, 9002, and 9003, quality system models for external quality assurance, into one basic standard. The revised ISO 9001 standard combines the following: principles covering design, manufacturing, installation, and servicing systems; production and installation; final product inspection and test.

ISO 9004 provides guidelines for internal use by a producer developing its own quality system to meet business needs and take advantage of opportunities. This standard is a combination of the standards ISO 9004-1, 9004-2, 9004-3, and 9004-4.

Vocabulary

ISO 9000
Quality Management and Quality Assurance - Vocabulary

Defines the fundamental terms of the ISO 9000 group of standards

Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards

ISO 9000-1
Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards - Part 1: Guidelines for Selection and Use

The starting point for determining which standards fit your needs

ISO 9000-2
Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards - Part 2: Generic Guidelines for the Application of ISO 9001, 9002, and ISO 9003

ISO 9000-3
Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards - Part 3: Guidelines for the Application of ISO 9001:1994 to the Development, Supply and Maintenance of Software

ISO 9000-4
Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards - Part 4: Guide to Dependability Program Management

Guidelines on how to plan and organize resources.

Quality Systems

ISO 9001
Quality Management Systems - Requirements

addresses the quality management system requirements for an organization to demonstrate its capability to meet customer requirements.

Quality Management and Quality System Elements

ISO 9004
Quality Management Systems - Requirements

Based on eight quality management principles: customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial supplier relationships

ISO 10005
Quality Management - Guidelines for Quality Plans

Provides guidance on how to prepare quality plans for the control of specific products, projects or contracts.

ISO 10006
Quality Management Guidelines - Guidelines to Quality in Project Management

These guidelines will help you ensure the quality of both the project processes and project product.

ISO 10007
Quality Management - Guidelines for Configuration Management

These guidelines ensure that a complex product continues to function when components are changed individually.

Guidelines for Auditing Quality Systems

ISO 10011-1
Guidelines for Auditing Quality Systems - Part 1: Auditing

Guidelines for auditing a quality system, and for verifying the system's ability to achieve defined quality objectives. You can use this standard internally or for auditing your suppliers.

ISO 10011-2
Guidelines for Auditing Quality Systems - Part 2: Qualification Criteria for Quality Systems Auditors

Provides guidance on the education, training, experience, personal attributes and management capabilities needed to carry out an audit.

ISO 10011-3
Guidelines for Auditing Quality Systems - Part 3: Management of Audit Programmes

Basic guidelines for managing quality system audit programmes.

Measuring Equipment

ISO 10012-1
Quality Assurance Requirements for Measuring Equipment - Part 1: Metrological Confirmation System for Measuring Equipment

Metrological confirmation system for measuring equipment

ISO 10012-2
Quality Assurance for Measuring Equipment - Part 2: Guidelines for Control of Measurement Processes

Supplementary guidance on the application of statistical process control.

Development of Quality Manuals

ISO 10013
Guidelines for Developing Quality Manuals

Training

ISO 10015
Quality Management - Guidelines for Training

Economics of Quality

ISO/TR 10014
Guidelines for Managing the Economics of Quality

Statistical Techniques

ISO/TR 10017
Guide to the Application of Statistical Techniques in the ISO 9000 Family of Standards

Order the entire ISO 9000 Series of Standards here