A standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials – standards can cover a huge range of activities undertaken by organizations and used by their customers. If so, how are the ISO and SAI standards for inspection and audit companies applied?
ISO – International Organization for Standardization
ISO is a voluntary organization whose members are recognized authorities on standards, each one representing one country. Members meet annually at a general assembly to discuss ISO’s strategic objectives. The organization is coordinated by a central secretariat based in Geneva. The technical management board is responsible for over 250 technical committees, who develop the ISO standards that define, establish, and maintain a quality assurance system for manufacturing and service industries.
The common standards are: ISO 9000 Quality management, ISO 14000 Environmental management, ISO 22000 Food safety management, ISO 26000 Social responsibility.
APPLICATION OF THE ISO 9001:2008 STANDARD FOR INSPECTION AND AUDIT COMPANIES
This standard sets out the requirements of a quality management system intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size and product provided. ISO 9001 standard is the base and the most recognized standards for inspection and audit companies.
SAI – Social Accountability International
SAI is a non-governmental, international, multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to improving workplaces and communities by developing and implementing socially responsible standards.
SAI works to protect the integrity of workers around the world by building local capacity and developing systems of accountability through socially responsible standards. SAI established one of the world’s preeminent social standards: SA 8000.
APPLICATION OF THE SA 8000 STANDARD FOR INSPECTION AND AUDIT COMPANIES
This standard is a tool for implementing international labor standards. It is used in over 3,000 factories, across 66 countries and 65 industrial sectors. The corporate social audit performed by most inspection and audit companies is based on SA 8000.
Do you have some other standards for your inspection company?