posted 11 April 2000 01:24 AM               

From: Dennis Arter [email protected]

>> Dennis Arter has indicated that the US TAG contingent has/will vote
>> nay on the whole thing. Good for them! I hope it turns out to be more
>> than a Quixotic exercise.
>
> Dennis...is this still true??

Well, not really. The USA intends to vote disapprove on the 9001 draft, due to an obvious problem with control of nonconformances. (Corrective action is suggested for EVERY nonconformance, which is not proper.) We also have serious problems with the audit clause, in that it reads very poorly and allows the report to bypass the auditee.

However...

At the next international meeting, these things will be discussed and the problems will be ironed out. At the end of the meeting, the USA may then elect to vote yes, based on the changes worked out.

I don't believe there will be sufficient dissatisfaction with the DIS to kill it. There is a slim chance that the changed DIS will go out for another vote before the final (FDIS) vote. That would, of course, set the schedule back by about six months. The chance is quite small, however.

> Is there a way I can keep up with the US TAG direction?

Subscribe the the Informed Outlook newsletter (now available through ASQ) or the Quality Systems Update newsletter (published by McGraw Hill). Or join the US Z1 committee and the US TAG176 committee. Check out http://standardsgroup.asq.org

posted 12 April 2000 07:43 PM               

It is also my understanding that Japan is thinking of withholding their vote for it as they have problems, not with wording, but with content. Slan Leat!