Norman Shields

摘要

The story begins in the late 1990s, with a conscientious management consultant conducting very competitively quoted and externally subsidised ISO 9002 quality management projects. The consultant thought that everything was organ-ised but had not, however, reckoned on the cunning of BS, EN and ISO: 'We will change the standard', they cried. 'We'll show those consultants and their clients.' So a committee was formed and, after costly deliberation, the members agreed on a draft standard. The committee planned a first issue date for the newly revised ISO 9000 standard series and everyone made ready for the big day. The issue date passed but the committee decided that it was not important because everyone could still work to the old 9001/2/3 standards. By this time the consultants said: 'Stuff BS, EN and ISO, we know what the numbering and content changes to the draft standard are likely to be. We'll just have to put a cross-reference matrix in our new manuals for now.' And so they did. 'We can still continue to meddle with things and keep those consultants waiting', said BS, EN and ISO committee members, 'but none of the certification bodies can assess to the new format yet so what's the hurry'.