Advocates for ISO Systems

So who are the advocates for ISO Systems?  Some are the usual suspects – the ones you are automatically going to be biased against, but a surprisingly larger range of other organisations also support ISO Systems and want to see them in wider use:

European Union

• Increasingly companies need to have the relevant standard for operating in a particular area: Eg. ISO 17025 Laboratory Competence for Forensics Testing
  • ISO 17025 Laboratory Competence is a requirement for all laboratories supporting forensic evidence in legal cases under Council Framework Decision 2009/905/JAH
  • Similar requirement, albeit not law, for 17025 for forensic evidence was laid down by American Associate for Laboratory Accreditation: R221 – Specific Requirements: Forensic Examination
  • In the UK, while there is a legal exemption for the UK from the above mentioned Council Framework Decision, Andrew Rennison (previous UK Forensic Science Regulator) and Gill Tully (current Regulator) have confirmed that it will nonetheless be required – and there are plans for this to be put in law shortly (expected 2016)

• Demonstrates that where there is a need to demonstrate good control, then ISO is the approach used to address the need – this would not work if ISO were not deemed expressly pertinent and trustworthy with regard to the issues in hand

UK Government/ Local Authorities

• Are using the attainment of ISO systems as a useful pointer for determining if tendering organisations should be regarded as appropriate for public sector work
  • Current Government drive to get SMEs involved in tendering for public services, created a need to demonstrate capability and effectiveness without relying on previous work in the area – ISO systems were chosen as the means for demonstrating this
  • As the number of applicants has risen for public tenders, also because of the encouraging of SMEs to apply, the need to separate out the tender applicants has devolved upon the “nice to have” list to become, de facto, a requirement

Environment Agency

• Part of the EA’s duty is to review permit applications for organisations wanting to undertake certain more impactful operations. These applications require applicants to demonstrate environmental capability and knowledge.
• The permit questions start with the query as to whether the applicant has an ISO System in place – if they do:
  • They get to skip answering most of the rest of the questions
  • They get a better score than if they were able to answer appropriately for all other questions – and thus pay less (cost is directly related to score)
  • If they are granted the permit, they pay less for subsequent visits by EA staff (as they know another 3^rd party audited system is in place to identify and address issues)
• Thus the EA relies upon and thus acknowledges the efficacy of the ISO system

Customers

Insisting on suppliers having specific standards

• In some fields (AS9100 Aviation, TS16949 Automotive), there are a few, large players in the relevant industries. They will not touch a supplier that does not hold – or quickly get – the relevant ISO standard. Thus, it has become a de facto entry requirement to the market
• These standards have been adapted to these specific industry sectors and hence are trusted and consequently demanded by others in the sector
• In other fields, customers with existing ISO 9001/14001 standards see the benefits to be so strong in optimally controlling their processes, they want to know their suppliers have them too to safeguard their inputs

ISO Systems in support of other regimes

• CE Marking for Medical Devices is supported by ISO 13485 Medical Devices
• Constructionline certification (for construction companies seeking Local Authority contracts) is supported by ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety
• “Supported” means that attaining the standard is recognised as a key or major step to attaining the separate certification being sought and which, therefore, reduces the cost and time to gain the rest of the certification

Summary

• In each case, these organisations, bodies, authorities, companies – call them what you will – have recognised the benefits that an ISO system brings:
  • You can trust the “maker” (ISO/UKAS) or
  • You can trust the “testers” (UKAS/certifiers) or
  • You can trust the “installer” (the consultants) or
  • You can trust the existing holders of such systems or
  • You can trust the demands of the tenderers/customers

It doesn’t matter which you chose, they all say the same!