posted 09 December 1999 04:41 AM               

From: Dennis Arter

ISO Releases DIS Versions of ISO 9000 Year 2000 Revisions

The Draft International Standard (DIS) versions of the ISO 9000 Year 2000 revisions were published by ISO on November 25, 1999 and were being circulated to the organization's member national standards institutes for a five-month ballot, ending on April 25, 2000. They are:

- ISO 9000, Quality management systems - Fundamentals and vocabulary. This will replace the current vocabulary standard, ISO 8402, and the guidelines for selection and use, ISO 9000-1; - ISO 9001, Quality management systems - Requirements. This will replace the current quality assurance models, ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003. It will therefore become the sole ISO 9000 standard for use in third-party certification; - ISO 9004, Quality management systems - Guidelines for performance improvements. This will replace the following current guidelines: for quality management and quality system elements, ISO 9004-1; for services, ISO 9004-2; for processed materials, ISO 9004-3; for quality improvement, ISO 9004-4, and the technical corrigendum to that document.

Individuals and organizations wishing to buy the draft standards, or with inquiries concerning them, should contact the ISO member in their country (ANSI, but for information contact ASQ at 800- 248-1946). Currently, the DIS versions of the Year 2000 standards will be available in January 2000.

When ISO documents reach the DIS stage, technical issues have usually been resolved at the level of the ISO technical committee developing the standards. However, the member body voting procedure provides assurance than no important objections have been overlooked. In many countries, there are procedures for submitting DIS to public inquiry, thereby ensuring the widest possible consultation.

In addition, ISO has carried out a series of exceptional measures to ensure broad-based input into the development of the ISO 9000 revisions. The ISO 9000 family is one of ISO's most successful products and the organization is well aware of the investment made in quality systems based on ISO 9000.

Therefore, it is taking a proactive approach to ensure that the transition to the new, enhanced versions will be a smooth one. The development of the ISO 9000 revisions is being carried out in synergy with a whole series of supporting measures and services.

For more information, contact: Roger Frost, ISO Central Secretariat, Tel. +41-22-749-01-11, E-mail: [email protected]