If ANSI can self-declare, why not you?

[Wes Bucey]

Wonderful press release today. Any comments from the peanut gallery? If ANSI (American National Standards Institute) can self-declare conformance/compliance to ISO9001:2000, why can't your organization?

ANSI Commitment to Quality Continues with ISO 9001

New York November 15, 2005 The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) celebrated a year-long process of self-assessment and continuous improvement today as part of its goal to self-declare conformance to ISO 9001:2000, the globally accepted quality management system standard set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).


ANSI president and CEO Mark W. Hurwitz commended the ANSI staff and congratulated members of the Institute’s quality committee during a signing ceremony earlier today in the ANSI operations office in New York. ANSI recently completed a comprehensive round of internal audits, corrective action and management reviews to demonstrate to the Institute’s stakeholders its operational abilities and enhancement of customer satisfaction.

“By signing this Declaration of Conformance, we are confirming ANSI’s commitment to excellence in fulfilling the Institute’s mission through the implementation of ISO 9001,” said Hurwitz. “This is a significant and well-recognized demonstration of our dedication to meeting the needs of members and constituents.”
The ISO 9000 family of standards has earned a global reputation as the basis for establishing quality management systems and is implemented in 154 countries worldwide.

 

[Justin]

I don't know about your state, but here in NY companies can self certify themselves to ISO. I am frequently asked by the local group of companies in my area to join their self certification program. They basically audit each other. The problem is that having seen their quality systems up close and personal, there are too many gaps and out of control processes.

 

[Jim Wynne]

If ANSI (American National Standards Institute) can self-declare conformance/compliance to ISO9001:2000, why can't your organization?

Why indeed. I hate it when journalists write stories from a background of ignorance. Almost every story I see in the popular media that deals with science or technology gets some significant fact wrong, or the writer makes the mistake of quoting a biased source without providing any balance. An example from the present piece:

ANSI recently completed a comprehensive round of internal audits, corrective action and management reviews to demonstrate to the Institute’s stakeholders its operational abilities and enhancement of customer satisfaction.

How does self-declaration of conformance demonstrate "...operational abilities and enhancement of customer satisfaction"? Why did ANSI choose against 3rd-party registration? My guess is that the person who wrote the piece doesn't even know that self-declaration is an alternative to registration, or that the dichotomy is the really important part of the story, not ANSI's self-congratulatory press release.

 

[Randy]

I'm not gonna guess, I'm gonna state.

There is no reason why an organization cannot self declare other than a customer/client (provider of cash flow) requires certification from an independant 3rd party organization like a registrar for purposes of verification of the claim.

 

[Jim Wynne]

I'm not gonna guess, I'm gonna state.

There is no reason why an organization cannot self declare other than a customer/client (provider of cash flow) requires certification from an independant 3rd party organization like a registrar for purposes of verification of the claim.

Absolutely (and I salute ANSI for not going the registration route), but the question is, why did they choose self-declaration?

 

[Howard Atkins]

Why indeed. I hate it when journalists write stories from a background of ignorance. Almost every story I see in the popular media that deals with science or technology gets some significant fact wrong, or the writer makes the mistake of quoting a biased source without providing any balance. An example from the present piece:


How does self-declaration of conformance demonstrate "...operational abilities and enhancement of customer satisfaction"? Why did ANSI choose against 3rd-party registration? My guess is that the person who wrote the piece doesn't even know that self-declaration is an alternative to registration, or that the dichotomy is the really important part of the story, not ANSI's self-congratulatory press release.

Sorry this time the mesenger is innocent
The quote is posted here
http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=1082
on ANSI's web site
Of course they http://www.ansi.org/conformity_assessment/overview/overview.aspx?menuid=4
Explain the importance of Accreditation

Ultimately, the marketplace and customers of this service measure the beneficial value of accreditation. Indeed suppliers’ procurement organizations are increasingly specifying accredited, third-party certification as an optional dimension of their systems for risk management.

I don't know about your state, but here in NY companies can self certify themselves to ISO. I am frequently asked by the local group of companies in my area to join their self certification program. They basically audit each other. The problem is that having seen their quality systems up close and personal, there are too many gaps and out of control processes.

This is not a State, Nation or Continent thing, any one and everyone can claim conformance and there are plenty of bodies who will give you a certificate which means even less

 

[Jim Wynne]

Sorry this time the mesenger is innocent
The quote is posted here
http://www.ansi.org/news_publications/news_story.aspx?menuid=7&articleid=1082

You're correct, Howard. It was just a verbatim quote of ANSI's press release. But you can bet that news organizations will either print it without questioning any of it, (this sort of thing is often used as filler) or they will question it but ask the wrong questions.

on ANSI's web site
Of course they http://www.ansi.org/conformity_assessment/overview/overview.aspx?menuid=4
Explain the importance of Accreditation

This might give the appearance of hypocrisy, but ANSI is actually pretty straightforward about it, even to the point of explicitly stating that the best reason for registration is satisfaction of customer requirements for registration :

In fact, for most suppliers, the primary benefit of accredited third-party certification is to meet a purchaser’s or regulator’s requirement for this independent evaluation of compliance.

 

[Randy]

Well as a customer of ANSI I want some verification or proof of the claim.

Talk is cheap.

Here's the catch....Most American CB's (Registrars) are ANAB accredited (ANAB is the ANSI-American-National-Accreditation-Board) so therefore only a non-ANAB accredited CB provide a non-conflict of interest audit of the QMS and I doubt they would ask for a UKAS cert so they can barf whatever claim they wish without contestation

Ain't it lovely.

 

[Hershal]

One note here.....even though ANSI stresses the importance of accreditation (e.g. IS/IEC 17024, ISO Guide 65), I am not familiar with any MRAs that they may be part of as an accrediting body.....if I am wrong please correct me.....but if not, what does that say about cooperation and recognition?

Hershal

 

[Carl Keller]

Hmmmmm...

Now where is it that I have heard this argument before?

I'm gonna bet not one company ceases to do business with ANSI because of it.

The "Accredited" certification does hold any more water than the "Declared" one.

Carl-