Management makeover - New format for future ISO management system standards - 24 July, 2012.
ISO has just completed work to provide identical
structure, text and common terms and definitions for management system
standards of the future. This will ensure consistency among future and revised
management system standards and make integrated use simpler. It will also make
the standards easier to read and, in so doing, be understood by users.
Three management system standards have already been
published in this new harmonized format with another seven on the way. Both
ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 will follow the new outline during their revision
process.
Why ?
ISO has over the years published many management
system standards for topics ranging from quality and environment to information
security, business continuity management and records management. Despite
sharing common elements, ISO management system standards come in many different
shapes and structures. This, in turn, results in some confusion and
difficulties at the implementation stage.
From
theory to practice
All technical committees developing management
system standards have to follow Annex SL in the new consolidated ISO
Supplement. Annex SL harmonizes structure, text and terms and definitions,
while leaving the standards developers with the flexibility to integrate their
specific technical topics and requirements. Box 1 includes the
high level structure and examples of definitions and identical text.
Box
1 : Examples from the new Annex SL
High
level structure :
- Clause 1 - Scope
- Clause 2 - Normative references
- Clause 3 - Terms and definitions
- Clause 4 - Context of the organization
- Clause 5 - Leadership
- Clause 6 - Planning
- Clause 7 - Support
- Clause 8 - Operation
- Clause 9 - Performance evaluation
- Clause 10 - Improvement
Example
of identical definitions :
Organization, interested party, policy, objective,
competence, conformity.
Example
of identical text :
Top management shall ensure that the
responsibilities and authorities for relevant roles are assigned and
communicated within the organization.
New
requirements
There are subtle language issues such as the change
from document and records to documented information, to the use of IT and other
tools to illustrate what is being done. The new text recognizes the use of the
broad concept of risk and the need to understand risk in the context of the
management system. It also encourages everyone to view preventive action as a
broader concept than simply preventing an incident from re-occurring.
No
challenge is too big
Any change represents challenges and opportunities.
And this is no exception. Over the next few months, we will promote
understanding of what this change means to avoid confusion and improve
understanding among the affected technical committees, as well as among the
users of the standards.
What
next ?
It will take a few years before all existing
management system standards have been fully harmonized. However, there were an
impressive number of standards that used the new format as it was being
developed.
Two of ISOʼs flagship management system standards
have launched their revision processes (ISO 9001 and ISO 14001) and both will
use the new format for their revisions. Box 2 sets out the
list of standards that have used the new approach.
The Joint Technical Coordination Group (JTCG) is
responsible for the development of the document at the request of the ISO
Technical Management Board (TMB). JTCG plans to collect information on user
experience in 2012. It is available to answer any questions from standards writers,
although users should initially ask their standards developing community.
Source: www.iso.org
24 July, 2012.