Latest News & Opinion on the ISO Certification Scheme
More Examples of ISO 9001 Registrars Performing Overt Consulting
The restriction against consulting is routinely ignored by CBs, who provide unending “opportunities for improvements”, all under the direct watch of their Accreditation Body overseers, like ANAB and UKAS. In fact, CBs are now so bold about it, they include such “specific solutions” right in their audit reports.
Mathis Resurgent – SGS Hires Ex-Intertek, Ex-AQA, Ex-BSI Executive
Ronald D. Mathis, formerly of Intertek, then formerly of BSI, then formerly of AQA International, was hired in 2014 by registrar SGS, where, due to gravitational forces, is where all such thing sink. Fourth time’s a charm, one presumes. [OPINION]
Where’s Alka? The Mysterious Absent US TAG Chair
In 2005, Alka Jarvis replaced Jack West as chair of the US Technical Advisory Group to TC 176, the body that authors the ISO 9000 family of standards. West was forced out due to term limits, and Jarvis won the seat in an unopposed election, after having been nominated...
Only Hours After Oxebridge Article, ANAB Closes Smithers Complaint
Just a few hours after I published the article about how the ANAB complaint entry about Smithers was still open, ANAB rep Bob Cruse suddenly closed it. His official reason is as follows: SQA has provided their corrective action to the NCR raised by ANAB on this issue....
ANAB Result of Smithers Complaint Resulted in No Changes Whatsoever
This will be news to exactly no one, but ANAB’s quasi-response to the official complaint filed against Smithers has resulted in no changes whatsoever. Not only has Smithers failed to close the ANAB complaint in time, they are ramping up the very activities that caused the complaint in the first place.
“Risk Based Thinking” Meme Infects Job Postings
A new job posting by Johnson and Johnson for a Product Quality Manager requires the candidate to have a “track record of risk-based thinking across many disciplines required.” The only problem? “Risk based thinking” doesn’t exist.
Ensure A Fair Registration Audit With These Contractual Obligations For Your ISO 9001 Registrar
This comprehensive document provides you a full array of contractual riders you should flow down to your ISO 9001 registrar, to ensure they remain in compliance with the accreditation rules of ISO 17021. These contractual clauses will protect your organization from numerous rogue CB practices, such as the spreading of your confidential intellectual property, improper filing of audit reports, and poor reporting of nonconformities.
ISO 9001:2015 Won’t Require a Quality Manual — Here’s What to Replace it With
The upcoming ISO 9001:2015 standard will do away with the requirement for a Quality Manual. Here we argue that replacing it with an Interpretations Manual will simultaneously keep your customers happy, while improving the QMS for employees and other stakeholders.
Through CASCO, ISO Certification Bodies Write Their Own Rules
The accreditation rules published as ISO 17021 (for certification bodies) and ISO 17011 (for accreditation bodies) are published by an internal committee called CASCO, or the Committee on Conformity Assessment. Unfortunately, CASCO is comprised entirely of representatives from Certification and Accreditation Bodies, who tailor the rules to suit their own needs, often against the needs of standards users.
After Double Whiskey, ANAB Moves to “Single Brand”
Apparently under the influence of a double-shot of the finest scotch your money can buy, the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board has merged all its various companies into one, all under the name ANAB. That includes ISO 17025 accreditation body ACLASS and the whatever-the-hell-it-was company Forensic Quality Services (FQS.) The change went into effect this month, and was announced alongside a new website rollout, complete with painful video by ANAB head John Knappenberger.
Feedback Sought: Has BSI Written Findings Against Your CAPA Implementations?
This is a call for feedback from my fellow ISO 9001 consultants, as well as ISO 9001 user organizations. I am seeking evidence of BSI auditors having written nonconformities against corrective / preventive action systems implemented by either the consultant, or home-built by the client itself. This means any database, spreadsheet or other tool you might have purchased or developed to manage, track and resolve CAPAs.
Let’s Do Something Productive, Shall We?
The problems facing ISO 9001 and related certifications are serious. ISO certified companies are releasing products that injure or kill consumers, while registrars and Accreditation Bodies ignore rules designed to ensure the trust and value of the certification...
US TAG Leaders Tried to Scuttle Talk “Mildly Critical” of ISO 9001:2015, Risk-Based Thinking
Oxebridge has learned that the ASQ headquarters in Milwaukee WI had attempted to scuttle a planned presentation by Oxebridge founder Christopher Paris on the troubled development run-up to ISO 9001:2015 and the controversial approach to risk management, called “risk based thinking.”
One Question for ISO TMB’s Susan LK Briggs
As I mentioned earlier, ISO 9001 registrar NQA-USA is hosting a pricey seminar on transitioning to ISO 9001:2015 featuring ISO Technical Management Board representative Susan LK Briggs. Ms. Briggs is one of the top architects of the controversial "Annex SL" mandate...
Ka-Ching! Registrars Start the ISO 9001:2015 “Transition” Cash Machine
It was inevitable, but certification bodies (CBs) have already begun cashing in on the upcoming ISO 9001:2015, and as usual it’s not by selling the services they are actually accredited for.
TC 210 on Medical Devices Received Waiver from TMB on Annex SL Mandate
The ISO Technical Committee for medical device management system standards, TC 210, received a waiver from the ISO Technical Management Board (TMB) to deviate from the Annex SL high level structure for its upcoming ISO 13485 revision.
BSI Begins Issuing ISO 31000 Certificates Even Though Standard Says Not To
BSI has begun issuing “Statements of Compliance” for ISO 31000, the ISO standard on risk management, despite that standard clearly stating that such usage is not intended.
Guberman G-PMC Client Received ARM 9009 Certification Without Ever Seeing Actual Standard
Oxebridge has confirmed that at least one recipient of ARM 9009 certifications underwent an audit by self-accredited registrar Guberman PMC LLC (G-PMC) without ever having received a copy of the standard. ARM 9009 marketing materials published by the American Board of...
Fact-Checking Daryl Guberman’s ARM9009 “Firearms Standard” Claims
The Daryl Guberman / IndustrialPR Net machine is in full swing in the past two months, pushing a newly created certification scheme called ARM9009, purporting to be for firearm manufacturers. There’s a problem though: the claims being made by Guberman and friends appear to range from highly distorted representations to absolute falsehoods. Let’s look at some of them.
Free Certification For Anyone, for Anything, Because Why Not?
Accredited certifications becoming meaningless because of systemic refusal to hold parties accountable? As always, Oxebridge has the solution. If quality is free, then fake quality is free-er. Just stop paying altogether, and certify yourself to whatever the hell you want using our handy fill-in-the-blank certificate.
The Future is Risky: How Risk Sellers Have Usurped the Quality Profession
Quality has always been a profession lacking in unity and vision. With rare exceptions, few rock stars have emerged to drive quality forward, and nearly none since the retirements of Crosby and Juran. We have watched our profession waft from fence post to fence post, pausing only temporarily on “the next big thing,” such as quality circles, statistical process control, Lean, Six Sigma, and ISO 9001. Nowadays, the loudest salesman is often the only voice left in quality. So it’s not a surprise that ISO caved to the newest, loudest salesman: the risk sellers.
Quick hit: Court Throws Out Bogus G31000 Suit Against Oxebridge
Just received word that the United States District Court has thrown out the bogus lawsuit filed by Alex Dali and Allen Gluck of G31000 North America, which alleged Oxebridge had defamed them by reporting on G31000 and founder Dali.
Shoot Me Now: Following ANAB’s Lead, Cert Mill Launches Firearm Certification Scheme
Presumably watching as ANAB and Smithers invented SN9001 from thin air, certificate mill operator Daryl Guberman and his partner organization Industrial Leaders Group have launched “ARM9009” a standard that alleges to ensure the quality of firearms and armor manufacturing.
Visual Analysis of ISO TMB’s Transparency Rules
The ISO Technical Management Board (TMB) is responsible for the development of the Annex SL content and “high level structure” requirements that must now be used by all ISO Technical Committees (TCs) when drafting ISO management system standards. Oxebridge has analyzed the language of TMB Rules and discovered that a majority of the language acts to limit or restrict concepts normally considered related to transparency.
ISO Doubles Down on Restricting Waivers to Annex SL
ISO has strengthened language in its ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1, Consolidated ISO Supplement regarding whether ISO Technical Committees (TCs) may deviate from the new “high level structure” (HLS) requirements of Annex SL.
Free Download: “Risky Business – Surviving the Future of ISO 9001:2015 and Risk Based Thinking”
Oxebridge has ended its speaking tour on Risky Business: Surviving the Future of ISO 9001:2015 with a final presentation in New York City for ASQ Section 300. The tour attempted to bring awareness to issues within the ISO standards development process, as well as how companies might leverage some of the deficiencies in the coming ISO 9001 standard to their advantage. Now that the tour has completed, the slide presentation is available for the public.
Chris Paris Challenges ISO 9001:2015 and “Risk Based Thinking” at ASQ NYC Event Nov 12
Oxebridge VP Operations Christopher Paris will present Risky Business: Surviving the Future of ISO 9001:2015 to the ASQ Section 300 in Manhattan on November 12th, 2014. The event will be held at Fordham University, and tickets may be purchased from ASQ via this link....
Live on LinkedIn: Watch IAQG Rep Self-Immolate in Real Time
This thread on LinkedIn is worth reading, in that it perfectly displays the typical response of a standards developer representative when challenged to provide data to support a position. Here’s the link:
ISO DIS 9001 Gets Approved, Proceeds to FDIS Stage
The ISO DIS 9001:2015 standard was approved by a majority of ISO member nations, meaning the standard is tracking for an on-time publication date of late 2015. The countries that voted against the DIS were the United States, along with Canada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Japan, and South Africa.
ANAB Rules — Cryptically — on the Smithers Complaint
ANAB issues a cryptic message in response to the Oxebridge complaint that Smithers was cross-marketing its SN9001 and ISO 9001 services with that of a single consultant, in violation of ISO 17021. The response is so cryptic, however, it’s not exactly clear what ANAB found, or what corrective actions are being demanded of Smithers. Slap on the wrist for an ANAB business parter?
ISO: “We Are Not Entitled” to Answer Questions on Annual Survey Data
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has refused to answer questions regarding perceived irregularities in the recent ISO Survey data on total ISO 9001 certificates worldwide, claiming it “is not entitled” to do so.
ISO: Certification Bodies Scuttled CERTO Database Plans
According to the program manager responsible for the ISO CERTO database initiative, the combined efforts of certification bodies and accreditation bodies led to the program’s sudden demise. The ISO CERTO project would have finally provided a single international repository for certification information, allowing users and the public to verify a company’s ISO 9001 certification status in real time.
Timeline: The Origin of ISO 9001’s “Risk Based Thinking”
This is a (very) short summary of what we know so far as to how “Risk Based Thinking” got invented and inserted into ISO 9001:2015.
QSHE is BS. Here’s why.
As yet another data point on why the quality profession has failed to gain traction as a “legitimate” career path or discipline, it’s allowed itself to get saddled with entirely off-topic subjects that no one else wants to touch. When a senior executive is looking for someone to manage occupational safety, worker health and the environment, rather than take on three additional salaries for properly trained and qualified experts in each discipline, why not just “give it that quality guy”?
ISO 9001 on the Rebound in USA?
The latest ISO Survey data shows a remarkable reversal in total certificate figures for the United States. In 2013, the US gained a whopping 8,692 certificates, the largest single year increase for the US in the entire history of ISO 9001. If true, this offsets a...
