Latest News & Opinion on the ISO Certification Scheme
Oxebridge Files Complaint Against Bureau Veritas Alleging Consultant Conflict of Interest
Oxebridge has filed a 14-page complaint against accredited certification body Bureau Veritas alleging that it failed to properly police marketing claims made by GreenBizCheck, an ISO 14001 consulting firm. Oxebridge alleges that BV was impacted by a financial conflict of interest, due to an exclusive relationship whereby BV provides special certification services for GBC’s “Gold – Silver – Bronze” environmental certification.
Move by CASCO Will Kill ISO 9001 “Registration”
The ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) is wiping out a decades-old requirement that certification bodies (CBs) of ISO 9001 and other management system certifications must maintain registries of their certified clients. Upon publication of the new ISO 17021-1 standard, the term “ISO 9001 registered” will effectively be moot, since there will no longer be any registries of certified clients.
Quality Digest Columnist Slips, US TAG Isn’t Interested in Consensus
Over at Quality Digest, US TAG go-to toady and editorial favorite Denise Robitaille accidentally let the truth slip out, broadcasting the TAG's position on ISO 9001 end user feedback: All the wringing of hands and ongoing debate will not hurry the process or change...
Why ISO 9001’s “Risk Based Thinking” is Bad for Risk Managers
ISO’s Technical Committee 176 has created a concept called “risk based thinking” and is planning to introduce it later this year, when the next edition of ISO 9001 — ISO’s flagship standard — is released. The fallout for risk managers is that now we have the quality profession claiming sudden mastery over risk management, and retroactively claiming they’ve been experts all along. They are like children driving their dad’s new car. Blind children.
Takata Airbag Debacle Raises Questions About TS 16949 Certification
The three plants were operated by Takata subsidiary Inflation Systems Inc. (ISI), found to have been manufacturing the defective airbag systems that killed five people to date, were ISO/TS 16949 certified. So far, the registrar hasn’t come forward, and finding records of the certifications is proving difficult.
New Resource for CBs or ABs on Processing Oxebridge Complaints
To help those Certification Bodies or Accreditation Bodies who have received an Oxebridge complaint, we’ve published a handy guide on how to properly respond in accordance with the accreditation rules, as well as a list of things not to do.
Bureau Veritas “Alliance” Alleges to Fast-Track ISO 14001 for Clients of Specific Consultant
In June of 2011, Bureau Veritas Australia entered into a formal partnership with consulting firm GreenBizCheck, in what was then branded an “alliance” between the Certification Body and the consultant. In subsequent marketing materials, GreenBizCheck then announced — with the full knowledge of Bureau Veritas — that the partnership would result in “a substantially lower cost, streamlined process for clients who wish to obtain ISO 14001 certification” by Bureau Veritas.
Registrars Rank Highest in Google Searches for QMS Consulting
Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) rank highest in Google searches related to QMS consultation and implementation, despite rule prohibiting such registrars from offering such services.
NABCB Hires Detectives to Crack Down on Registrar Corruption
The Indian national accreditation body has hired private investigators as part of a crackdown on rampant corruption among certification bodies (CBs) in India. The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) began using a private detective agency in...
And then this happened….
Teaser for upcoming Eyesore 9001:2015
The Path Forward: The Final Step in Improving ISO 9001
The “long game” towards improving ISO 9001 was never going to end without a few struggles in the middle. Whenever an entrenched incumbent authority sees change coming, the reaction will not be a warm embrace, so history tell us.
Did EAGLE Drop Its “Consultant Preferred” Program?
It appears that EAGLE Certification Group has scrubbed its “Consultant Preferred” program, originally launched last year after Director of Business Development Ben Marchant came on board. Not only that, their site has been cleaned up of (almost) all evidence of any consultant references.
Source: IAF Mulls How to Stop Processing ISO 9001 Customer Complaints
A source close to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) told Oxebridge that some in the organization are considering ways to bypass rules requiring processing of ISO 9001 end user complaints, if not stop them altogether.
Omnex Gets it Wrong, Says 9001:2015 Could Be Released in Weeks
The ever-promoting Chad Kymal of Omnex, alongside ASQ stalwart R. Dan Reid, have apparently forgotten to switch to decaf, and may be unnecessarily freaking out the entire world with a completely erroneous report that claims ISO 9001:2015 could be released in mere weeks, rather than at the end of 2015 as planned.
Risk-Based Plagiarism: Talking Points Gone Viral
The test of whether ISO TC 176’s “risk based thinking” makes any sense is to see if the people promoting it actually practice it. Of course, they don’t, as evidenced by the massive spate of plagiarism going on by those selling risk-based thinking.
Oxebridge Submits Complaint to IAF Alleging UKAS Violations
Oxebridge has filed a 12-page complaint with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) against the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), alleging violations of ISO 17011, the IAF Code of Conduct for Members, as well as violations of EU regulations and UK law.
IAF Adopts Accreditation Standard One Year Before It’s Actually Released
The International Accreditation Forum (IAF) issued a formal resolution endorsing ISO 17021-1 almost a year before the standard is set to be published, and based only on a non-ratified draft version of the standard.
What’s With All the Typos?
Just a quick site note. Some of you have noticed an increase in typographical errors here on the site lately. I take responsibility, but the reason is unusual. For most of the "hard news" pieces, these are run through another person (or persons) for fact-checking and...
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.
