This task is not exactly easy for quality and environmental management representatives in companies: the international ISO standards for quality management have been revised, and there are a number of changes to take into account. For companies, this means they must further develop their existing quality management system in accordance with the requirements of the new standard within a period of three years.
And the changes are significant, as the current revision represents one of the most fundamental in the history of the standard. For example, the entire structure of the standards is being changed and transitioned to a so-called “High Level Structure,” which is intended to promote the integration of various management systems. Furthermore, current topics are being integrated into the standard’s requirements for a management system, such as consideration of stakeholder interests, upstream and downstream production stages, and risk assessment. In the future, therefore, no quality management system can be implemented or certified without these (and other) aspects. The new ISO 9001 is scheduled to take effect in September 2015.
But there’s no need to worry. At the invitation of TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH and the Chair of
integrated management systems
, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
,Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering Management)— presented the expected changes in an accessible and clear manner and offered initial information on how these requirements could be implemented in practice.
The subsequent discussion revealed that while the companies are aware of the challenges, implementation has not yet begun. The companies would like support throughout the process, for example, in conducting a so-called GAP analysis of their existing quality management system in relation to the new ISO standard by students in the “integrated management systems” program or through additional informational events or training sessions organized by the IMS Network, which consists of faculty members from HSZG and TÜV Rheinland Akademie GmbH.
A second colloquium on the topic of “ISO 9001 Revision” has therefore already been scheduled for 2016. The 3rd IMS Breakfast will take place in October on the topic of “ISO 14001 Revision (Environmental Management Systems).”
Contact:
Prof. Dr. rer. pol. Jana Brauweiler
Phone: 03583 61-1752
Email: j.brauweiler@hszg.de
Website: www.hszg.de/janabrauweiler