USING STATISTICAL METHOD TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ISO 9001

Ref.: 875

2003-10-16

A new technical report is expected to help users of the ISO 9000 series identify statistical techniques that will improve the effectiveness of their quality management system.

Statistical techniques offer insight into the nature, extent and causes of variability in products and services and, in so doing, help control and reduce problems that could arise from such variability, and which exists throughout the life cycle of products, from market research to customer service and final disposal.

Published by ISO (International Organization for Standardization), the new technical report, ISO/TR 10017:2003, Guidance on statistical techniques for ISO 9001:2000, is intended to assist managers in their decision-making processes by identifying statistical techniques that could help improve the quality of products and processes.

"The effective deployment of statistical techniques is largely governed by how well their potential application and benefit are understood by management," says Lally Marwah, Convenor of the working group that developed the new standard. "This need is well served by the recently published technical report, which offers a clear and concise view of a range of widely used statistical techniques, and their potential role and value in driving quality improvement."

It can be used by organizations in developing, implementing, maintaining and improving a quality management system based on ISO 9001:2000, although the use of ISO/TR 10017 is not a requirement for certification/registration purposes.

ISO/TR 10017:2003 replaces ISO/TR 10017:1999. It is aligned with ISO 9001:2000 and will serve as a strategic tool for managers who may not necessarily be experts in statistical techniques.

http://www.iso.org/iso/pressrelease.htm?refid=Ref875