The certification that guarantees performance

When it comes to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 9003 is one of its published terms that refers to a standard that has been developed. The most recent version of this standards ISO 9003:1994 and is referred to as “Quality systems-Model for quality assurance in final inspection and test.”

Importance to organizations

On a general basis every firm that refers themselves as having ISO 9003 certification are just merely referring to the last version published by the standard. However, you should note that the ISO 9003 has undergone revision by the ISO 9001. 

Purpose of the standard

The ISO 9003 which is not currently a certified industry certification had been with the intent for businesses which do not need control of their designated process, servicing or purchasing, but use testing and inspection as a determinant if the final services as well as products meet what’s required.

The main bodies that issue out the certifications are third parties, but they only issue the most revised version of the standard.

Some of the areas the standard focused on were:

• Managerial responsibility,
• Establishment of quality systems, controls and procedures,
• Contact review procedures, review, records and amendments
• Document and data control
• Customer supplied equipment, control of inspection equipment, inspection and test of products as well as non-conforming equipment and corrective handling equipment usage.
• Handling and storage records and their delivery, proper record keeping, fulfilling quality internal audit obligations, the training requirements and procedures as well as statistical techniques.

Revisions that took place

It should be an item of note that the standard ISO 9003:1994 is now obsolete and its replacement is ISO 9001:2008. This originated from a combination of a number of standards ISO 9003, ISO 9002 and ISO 9001 to eventually become ISO 9001:2000. Unfortunately, it was later on revised to become ISO: 2008. If you are on the look for the particular standard a more recent general perspective of the standards and their dynamic nature will prove most helpful.