Does ISO 9001:2008 Continue to Blur the Purpose of Conformity Standardization? An Analysis from the Operations Strategy Perspective

摘要

Despite the success that standard ISO 9001:1994 achieved it was extensively criticized and empirical studies showed controversial results about its impact on performance. The standard went through important changes in year 2000; however the empirical research related to results of ISO 9001:2000 did not show a very optimistic picture either. In 2008 standard was again moderated, this time changes were modest though. Our conceptual study was motivated with the above mentioned dilemma about ISO 9001 effectiveness, and the controversy that this dilemma raises in literature on one side and on the other side with the almost exponential growth of certifications among companies world-wide. It is our opinion that in order to understand results related to ISO 9001 implementation we need to take a step back from empirical research and instead try to analyze ISO conceptually by taking into account also the results of empirical studies implemented in the past. Paper analyzes changes in the focus of standard and their consequences with using a specific framework of the presented operations strategy theory. The purpose of our paper is to conceptually analyze what are the consequences for ISO 9001 standardization, as the revised standard emphasized most known TQM elements by drawing upon a conceptual theoretical and empirical research base, developed within operations strategy research on one side, and on the other side on an extensive empirical research basis related to implementation issues and benefits of ISO 9001:1994 and 9001:2000. Paper proposes two different possible interpretation of the ISO 9001:2000/2008 purpose and identifies consequences and dilemmas of accepting each of the interpretations. Analysis shows that the present version of ISO is not consistently structured and therefore ISO committee has to overcome this ambiguity by clearly stating what the purpose of the ISO 9001 is and structure the standard consistently in accordance with this stated purpose. Analysis shows that there are different possible theoretical options of how to respond to identified shortcomings of the ISO 9001:2000, which are relevant based on the specific interpretation of what has been the actual intended change in standard’s purpose.