Is it necessary to inform customers of planned changes to the quality management system? With the obsolescence of QS9000 later this year, we've decided to withdraw our certificate early, and only remain certified to ISO 9001:2000. This saves us a few bucks on our spring continuous assessment audit with our registrar. We have no plans and no customer requirements at this time to pursue TS registration. So, do we need to send out a letter of intent to drop the QS registration or does everyone know of it's impending demise? I contend that it would be non value added to spend time on stating the obvious, but our director of quality is not so sure. Comments??

Thanks!

This is an interesting question. From a QS standpoint there are requirements for notification (4.1.6.1), however, if you drop QS that provision will no longer apply. There are no such requirements in ISO 9001. You may have, however, some customer-specific requirements as to notifying them should your status change. Failure to notify them could create problems.

I would always recommend a letter stating your intent to focus on ISO 9001. But remember, QS goes away in December anyway.

Is it necessary to inform customers of planned changes to the quality management system? Comments??I would suggest you look at your customer requirements to determine if you have an obligation to inform them of QMS changes.

As an example of a customer communication about notification of such changes, check the Boeing Commercial Aircrafts X31764 form (http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/doingbiz/supplier/X31764.pdf).