How Most ISO 9001 Certification Standards are Created and Revised (Demo)

A June 2013 news article posted on the ISO.org website reported that the ISO 9001 revision has reached the Committee Draft stage. ISO expects to publish the new version of ISO 9001 by the end of 2015. Once that happens, companies will have a transition period (usually two years) to allow them to fully implement the revisions so they can continue to enjoy ISO 9001 certification benefits.

How does ISO create standards?

ISO standards are created by a group of experts within a technical committee; once the need for the development or revision of a standard has been established, these experts will meet to discuss the scope of a standard. As soon as they develop a draft, they will share it with ISO’s members and ask them to comment and vote on it. If an agreement is reached, then the draft becomes a standard; if not, it goes back to the technical committee for more revisions.

Why do the standards need to be revised?

Under the constitution of the ISO, management system standards need to be reviewed every five years. This cycle is designed to ensure the relevance and applicability of the standards, thereby making the industry more effective and efficient through their use.

What is the Committee Draft stage?

The Committee Draft stage is the first consultation in the creation or revision of a standard. During this stage, members have two to four months to form their position on the draft and comment on it. Some members can choose to get input from the public to help them establish their position.

What comes next?

Once the position of each participating member has been submitted, experts will meet to discuss any problems or questions raised until they can publish a Draft International Standard. The draft is then put out to the public for input. Anyone who wishes to provide input can contact his national member body for comments on the draft standard. Once the draft is finalized, it is published and the date following the standard’s number is modified (e.g., ISO 9001:2005).

What is the timetable for this latest revision?

ISO anticipates that a draft version of the revised standard will be available during the 2nd quarter of 2014. A final draft version can be available during the fourth and final quarter of 2014, with publication of the revised version of the standard expected to come a year later. However, this timetable is still subject to delay and date slippage. As an accredited certification body, ISO certification 9001 firms like the International Standards Authority, Inc. are attuned to this pending revision and make any new information about it immediately available to their clients.