George Hummel (visual approximation)
While the US TAG 176 consultants reject input from their customers, the stakeholders, beleaguered US TAG 176 member George Hummel, who runs the UKAS-accredited registrar Global Certification-USA, is taking it one step further and rejecting even communication within the TAG itself.
A handful of TAG members have sent internal emails recommending Sheronda Jeffries for the post of Chair of US TAG 176 Subcommittee 2. Ms. Jeffries is running against Lorri Hunt in one of only two contested seats currently on the US TAG leadership ballot. (All other positions were whittled down by a non-elected Nominating Committee so that the hand-picked nominees will be elected without competing candidates.)
You would think that TAG members would be allowed to communicate to each other, especially over matters that are so uniquely American like debating democratic elections, but Hummel thinks otherwise:
In response to my recent email to TAG members, wherein I urged them to exercise their right to vote and not ignore the elections, Hummel sent me a lengthy email that I’ve yet to decide what to do with. Suffice it to say it’s… interesting. To date, the response to my message has been met with support from the ISO 9001 user base within the US TAG, and harsh condemnation from the consultant wing. Hummel has been one of the worst offenders, and can’t seem to keep his foot from kicking himself in the mouth. Sending ragemail is a pattern with Hummel, and the TAG leadership appears unable to control him, despite all those rules and grandiose claims of holding to ethical standards, etc.
It’s one thing for the TAG to refuse communication from stakeholders. It’s another for them to refuse communication between each other. Incredible!
One thing is clear: the US TAG 176 is imploding faster than TC 262. Rarely have we seen a display of such unprofessional cronyism in any ISO member body. And to think that this level of dysfunction was brought about because of the most American of duties — voting — is indicative of just how sick the US TAG 176 has become.
Meanwhile, of course, ANSI remains silent. They ultimately hold responsibility for ensuring their TAGs stay in line with procedures and ISO directives, but they are ignoring the problem, perhaps hoping it’s just going to go away.
Christopher Paris is the founder and VP Operations of Oxebridge. He has over 35 years’ experience implementing ISO 9001 and AS9100 systems, and helps establish certification and accreditation bodies with the ISO 17000 series. He is a vocal advocate for the development and use of standards from the point of view of actual users. He is the writer and artist of THE AUDITOR comic strip, and is currently writing the DR. CUBA pulp novel series. Visit www.drcuba.world
