Work Begins on ISO9001:2008

KUALA LUMPUR — With the impact of ISO 9001:2000 felt
even in this emerging economy, standards writers from
around the world gathered here recently to begin developing the
blue print for the next iteration of the world’s best-known
quality management standard, planned for 2008.
Some 300 delegates from 50 countries and economies
descended upon this bustling, diverse Muslim capital
famed for its glistening twin towers — 88 stories of glass
and steel — that rank among the world’s tallest and
most magnificent structures.While a few delegates lobbied
for new requirements to the international standard,
most seemed determined to limit the scope of
the revision to only those changes necessary to
clarify the existing document.
The International Organization for Standardization
(ISO) makes no formal distinction
between a revision or amendment in its
technical parlance, but standards experts
have carefully chosen to describe this revision
of ISO 9001 as an “amendment” in
the hope of sending a message to the estimated
half million certificate holders
that they will make only those changes
necessary for clarification of the document
or for achieving greater alignment
with ISO 14001 on environmental management.