Why do ARTSM insist on certification to ISO 9001 for its Class A Membership:
The Objects for which the Association is established are to:-
(a) Improve road safety by promoting compliant quality products supplied by ARTSM members.
(b) Be the informed envoy of members to Government and Standards Bodies and to ensure that the standards and specifications produced are credible and practicable.
(c) Ensure that members are aware of relevant industry standards and policies.
(d) Engage in the resolution of non-adherence to mandatory standards
To this end, we require that our members themselves can show that they have invested in the establishment of standards for their businesses in order to satisfy ourselves and those who look to use ARTSM Members, that they have regard to standards as a valuable indicator of worth.
Why ISO:
ISO 9001 is one of a series of three international standards for quality systems that can be used for external quality assurance purposes. These standards specify quality system requirements for use where a contract between two parties requires the demonstration of a supplier’s capability. Quality system requirements are defined for three types of supplier activity:
- ISO 9001 is a model for quality assurance systems in design, development, production, installation and servicing. It is appropriate when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier during several phases of activity which may include design, development, production, installation and servicing.
- ISO 9002 is a model for quality assurance systems in production and installation. It is appropriate when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier during production and installation.
- ISO 9003 is a model for quality assurance systems in final inspection and test. It is appropriate when conformance to specified requirements is to be assured by the supplier solely at final inspection and test.
ISO 9001 is applicable when the contract between the two parties specifically requires design and/or development effort and the product requirements are stated principally in performance terms or they need to be established, and confidence in product conformance can be attained by adequate demonstration of some of the supplier’s capabilities in design, development, production, installation, and servicing. The quality system requirements of ISO 9001 are aimed at preventing nonconformity at all phases of the product life cycle from design and/or development through servicing. These requirements are complementary to the technical specifications of the product. They do not replace the technical requirements, and are not an alternative to them.
When an organization’s quality system has been assessed against ISO 9001, ISO 9002 or ISO 9003 by an accredited independent certification body, then the quality system is registered, and can be used as evidence of quality assurance in tendering for contracts. Quality systems produced in accordance with these quality system requirements are subject to regular third party assessment based on documented, objective evidence of compliance.
The ISO 9000 series of standards, and their European equivalent (EN 29000), are derived from the British quality management standard (BS 5750) which was built on a military standard, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Def Stan 0521.
Increasingly, large companies are insisting that suppliers should be accredited. Dealing with accredited suppliers provides them with a sense of security, and reduces the effort required to control the supplier’s products. From the supplier’s point of view, accreditation provides a quality image, customer confidence, and access to markets where quality certification is obligatory.
ARTSM believe that ISO 9001 is a good indicator that our members are willing to achieve the expected standards of industry.