Covegratulations to Paul Simpson, Chair-Elect of the ISO TC176 SC2

Sidney Vianna

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A long time Cover, Mr. Paul Simpson, is the Chair-Elect for the ISO TC 176 SC2, group responsible for the maintenance and development of ISO 9001 and ISO 9004. In my opinion, Paul can make a significant and positive difference with his knowledge and pragmatism.

I believe Paul takes over the position in early 2019.

Covegratulations are in order.
 
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Paul Simpson

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Thanks for posting, Sidney and thank you, everyone, for your kind messages. I take up my post on the 1st January as Dr Nigel Croft's term expires. My hopes for the new role are really the same as for my role on the Cove (and everywhere else I get involved) - to learn a little more about quality and standards and to pass on as much as I can at the same time.

The aim is to support the development work of Sub Committee 2 and the working groups that do all the work! :)

Part of my plan is to build on existing communications channels and encourage the user view to be heard in the development of SC 2 standards, especially ISO 9001.
 

Sidney Vianna

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Part of my plan is to build on existing communications channels and encourage the user view to be heard in the development of SC 2 standards, especially ISO 9001.
One area that I would recommend you look in to is the Interpretations Request process. Right now, the following information is available in the TC 176 SC 2 webpage:

Interpretations of ISO 9001
ISO provides an interpretations service for its member national standards bodies, to resolve any identified ambiguities in the standard. Regrettably this is NOT a service that is available for users of the standard. It also involves a process of consultation among the members of ISO/TC 176/SC 2 to agree any proposed interpretation, so cannot be expected to give an instantaneous response.
If you, as a user, have a query on the standard you should contact to your national standards body in the first instance, to seek advice on resolving it.
The listing of formally approved interpretations is available to download.
National standards bodies should refer to the Guidance on the interpretations process and apply for an interpretation using The "Request for an Interpretation" form.
I consider this process extremely bureaucratic and not friendly to users. I, myself, gave up on a RFI concerning an ISO 9001:2015 requirement because I was forewarned that the process would take, at least, one year.

While I can understand that requests for interpretations can not be processed instantaneously, I consider the current process way too slow. There is a lot of technology available to expedite some of these processes, but the bureaucracy mindset is hard to overcome.

I understand the need to follow protocol, but ISO committees and subcommitees should also be aware of the need to speed up their processes just like the businesses and societies they support, do. I sincerely hope you can be an agent of positive change in the ISO organization. Best of luck.
 

Paul Simpson

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One area that I would recommend you look in to is the Interpretations Request process. Right now, the following information is available in the TC 176 SC 2 webpage:

I consider this process extremely bureaucratic and not friendly to users. I, myself, gave up on a RFI concerning an ISO 9001:2015 requirement because I was forewarned that the process would take, at least, one year.

While I can understand that requests for interpretations can not be processed instantaneously, I consider the current process way too slow. There is a lot of technology available to expedite some of these processes, but the bureaucracy mindset is hard to overcome.

I understand the need to follow protocol, but ISO committees and subcommitees should also be aware of the need to speed up their processes just like the businesses and societies they support, do. I sincerely hope you can be an agent of positive change in the ISO organization. Best of luck.
Thanks again, Sidney. I'll take your comments with me to the next TC 176 meeting in Portugal this month. The interpretations process is interesting. There is a balance with keeping the process simple and allowing all the TC 176 participating organizations (the National Standards Bodies) having a say on the outcome. There are a few other issues but I'll save those until there is more to say after the Azores.
 
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