What is the difference between an ISO Section vs. ISO Element?

A

AZ Texas

In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child or is it vise versa?

For example. (5 is Management Responsibility). Is 5 a “Section” and the followings are Elements?
5.2 Customer Focus
5.3 Quality Policy
5.4 Planning
5.5 Responsibility, Authority, and Communication
5.6 Management Review
 

Randy

Super Moderator
You're pretty much right, but don't get all wrapped around the axle worrying about it. You'll also see Clause, Sub-Clause and the like.

Section is normally a major section of a standard like "1" or "3" or "4.2" or "7.5.1.3" and element is synonymous with Clause or Sub-Clause like "4.2.1" or "7.3.3a" or "7.5.1.3.1"....They all have numbers and most have a decimal point or dot or period (whatever you wanna call it)
 

Jim Wynne

Leader
Admin
In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child or is it vise versa?

For example. (5 is Management Responsibility). Is 5 a “Section” and the followings are Elements?
5.2 Customer Focus
5.3 Quality Policy
5.4 Planning
5.5 Responsibility, Authority, and Communication
5.6 Management Review


Welcome to the Cove.

There is no standard definition of the terms. If I refer to "section" 4.2.2 or "element" 4.2.2, or if I use a symbol such as "§" you still know I'm talking about 4.2.2, so it doesn't matter.
 

Randy

Super Moderator
Welcome to the Cove.

There is no standard definition of the terms. If I refer to "section" 4.2.2 or "element" 4.2.2, or if I use a symbol such as "§" you still know I'm talking about 4.2.2, so it doesn't matter.

Are you sure 'bout dat?
 
S

ssaass

Elemental approach is used for previous edition of ISO standard.
Now its process approach and clauses of standards are referred as section.
 
J

JaneB

In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child
I'd try not to spend a lot of time on these two terms... it is probably going to be confusing and there's other things worth more attention that trying to define these!.

Think of sections as large 'groups' of requirements. For example section 5 is the group of requirements around Management Responsibility.

Think of an element as a single bit of a Standard.
 

Ajit Basrur

Leader
Admin
Jim is right - elements and sections could be used interchangeably. I have read this somewhere but unable to find it now :)
 
C

ChrissieO

This reminds me of a conversation I had last year with our new MR, who had at the time very little experience with the standards having come more from a Six Sigma background.

I was trying to define to her what a required procedure was and the difference between that and a QP.

We came to a decision that we would just call them all "strawberrys" The same with Elements and Sections.

So every now and again one of us will refer to strawberry's in a meeting and it leaves the rest of the team a little bemused and amused.

It's only a name, its what it represents that matters.

Chrissie x
 
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