Process Standards, Not Product Standards
13 February 2009
Read by 2751 persons
ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 detail general requirements for management systems to be used in any business or sector. They apply to the processes a company uses to make its products or services; in other words, they concern its way of working and how it meets customer needs. ISO 9001:2000 applies to processes that affect product or service quality, and ISO 14001:2004 to processes that affect a company's environmental performance. ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 do not include requirements for specific products or services.
Consequently, ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications must never be presented in a way that could be interpreted as product certifications or guarantees. For example, customers and consumers must not get the false impression that ISO 9001:2000 certification is a guarantee of product quality, or that ISO 14001:2004 certification is a label meaning a product is "ecological" or "environmentally friendly."
Such misinterpretations can occur if the mention "ISO 9001:2000 certified" or "ISO 14001:2004 certified" appears on a product or its label, in an advertisement, or in product information. This is unacceptable, because it is not the product that is certified, but the management system that covers the processes by which the product is made.
For this reason, there must be no certification marks for compliance with ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 on products, product labeling or product packaging, or in any way that could be interpreted as indicating product compliance.
If your company wants to communicate its certification through documentation or materials other than product packaging or the product itself, it is important to take special care to avoid the type of misinterpretation mentioned above and ensure that the information is accurate, including using phrases such as the following:
"The management system governing the manufacture of this product is ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 14001:2004) certified."
"The management system governing the provision of this service is ISO 14001:2004 (or ISO 9001:2000) certified."
"ISO 9001:2000 certified quality management system", or "ISO 14001:2004 certified environmental management system."
"ISO 9001:2000 QMS", or "ISO 14001:2004 EMS."
"ISO 9001:2000 certified processes", or "ISO 14001:2004 certified processes."
The Company - or the System?
With ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 certification, it is the management system that is certified, not the company implementing the said system. However, since a management system does not have its own existence, it is acceptable for companies that have a certified system to describe themselves as certified, provided they specify the scope of that certification.
Certified companies can promote themselves by indicating that they are ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 certified through media such as company signs, advertisements on company vehicles, announcements, or letterheads.
Many certification bodies allow their certified clients to use special logos, designed by them, bearing the mention "quality assured company", "quality assured" and variants. This mention refers to the standardized definition of "assurance", which designates a statement confirming that something meets specified requirements – such use is acceptable.
Posted on April 15, 2008
maroc-qualite.com
Consequently, ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications must never be presented in a way that could be interpreted as product certifications or guarantees. For example, customers and consumers must not get the false impression that ISO 9001:2000 certification is a guarantee of product quality, or that ISO 14001:2004 certification is a label meaning a product is "ecological" or "environmentally friendly."
Such misinterpretations can occur if the mention "ISO 9001:2000 certified" or "ISO 14001:2004 certified" appears on a product or its label, in an advertisement, or in product information. This is unacceptable, because it is not the product that is certified, but the management system that covers the processes by which the product is made.
For this reason, there must be no certification marks for compliance with ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 on products, product labeling or product packaging, or in any way that could be interpreted as indicating product compliance.
If your company wants to communicate its certification through documentation or materials other than product packaging or the product itself, it is important to take special care to avoid the type of misinterpretation mentioned above and ensure that the information is accurate, including using phrases such as the following:
"The management system governing the manufacture of this product is ISO 9001:2000 (or ISO 14001:2004) certified."
"The management system governing the provision of this service is ISO 14001:2004 (or ISO 9001:2000) certified."
"ISO 9001:2000 certified quality management system", or "ISO 14001:2004 certified environmental management system."
"ISO 9001:2000 QMS", or "ISO 14001:2004 EMS."
"ISO 9001:2000 certified processes", or "ISO 14001:2004 certified processes."
The Company - or the System?
With ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 certification, it is the management system that is certified, not the company implementing the said system. However, since a management system does not have its own existence, it is acceptable for companies that have a certified system to describe themselves as certified, provided they specify the scope of that certification.
Certified companies can promote themselves by indicating that they are ISO 9001:2000 or ISO 14001:2004 certified through media such as company signs, advertisements on company vehicles, announcements, or letterheads.
Many certification bodies allow their certified clients to use special logos, designed by them, bearing the mention "quality assured company", "quality assured" and variants. This mention refers to the standardized definition of "assurance", which designates a statement confirming that something meets specified requirements – such use is acceptable.
Posted on April 15, 2008
maroc-qualite.com
