60 second interview:
International Organization
for Standardization
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ISO secretary-general discusses the revealing results of the latest ISO survey, the slowdown in the rate of ISO 9001 certification and the organization's plans for 2010 |
What were the most important results of the 2008 survey for ISO?
The survey confirms the global relevance of ISO's management system standards, which are being implemented by organizations in some 176 countries. The increasing use of the more recent management system standards, ISO 22000 for food safety and ISO/IEC 27001 for information security, shows that ISO is continuing to respond effectively to new requirements by developing the standards that the market needs.
Since 2006 the survey has revealed a slowing of the growth of ISO 9001 certification from 16% to just 3%. What do you think is behind this decline in growth?
The rate of growth has slowed down, but it's worth underlining that ISO 9001 certification is still valued. ISO 9001 has proven that it helps business and, even in markets where the standard has been taken up enthusiastically from the first publication 22 years ago, it still enjoys a strong following. The latest survey showed a surge in two such markets – the UK and Germany.
With that in mind, the slowdown may be attributed to factors such as the continuing growth and use of sector- and issue-specific ISO 9001-based standards and the trend for organizations to replace multiple-site certificates with one certificate covering all sites continues, reducing the number of certificates needed.
Are more sector-specific standards based on ISO 9001 planned?
We are developing or considering a number of standards where there is a clear market need. For example, we are developing an energy management system standard, ISO 50001. We also have proposals or approved work items for standards for the sustainability of event management, asset management, generic security management and organizational continuity management.
What do you think inspired the sudden increase in certification against ISO 22000, the food safety standard?
ISO 22000 has been gaining greater acceptance because of three important factors:
- the standard embraces the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points approach
- it presents a proven ISO management systems approach to plan, execute, control and improve on food safety performance
- it applies to organizations across the food chain, from farm to fork.
The Global Food Safety Initiative’s recent acceptance of the food safety system certification scheme FSSC 22000 is a sign that such private schemes, based on ISO 22000 and the application of pre-requisite programmes and ISO/CASCO standards, are an accepted approach for improving global food safety.
What are ISO’s plans for further information security management system standards?
In addition to ISO/IEC 27001, there is already the code of practice standard, ISO/IEC 27002. The family is being completed by:
- ISO/IEC 27013, a guideline on the integrated implementation of ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 20000 (service management)
- ISO/IEC 27015, a requirements guideline for applying an ISMS in the financial and insurance sectors
- ISO/IEC 27014, a guideline for an information security governance framework
- ISO/IEC 27007 and ISO/IEC 27008, two guideline standards for ISMS auditing and auditor controls.
World Standards Day 2009 was dedicated to combating climate change through standards. Do you think the results of the survey show that this is happening?
While the survey was carried out in 2008, I think the answer is definitely yes. By helping organizations to operate more efficiently and effectively, ISO's management system standards contribute to sustainable development. In particular, ISO 14001 provides a framework for organizations to improve their environmental performance. It's encouraging to note the 22 per cent increase in ISO 14001 certifications in 2008 and see that the standard is implemented in 155 countries.
Where will ISO be focusing its energies in 2010? What developments should management systems auditors be aware of?
It's a very exciting time to be part of the ISO system because we believe that what we are doing makes a positive difference to our world. Business, government and the wider international community are looking more and more to ISO to develop practical tools to tackle issues such as sustainability, development, health and safety and security to name a few. To help us respond effectively to these expectations, in 2010 we will be finalizing our strategic objectives for the next five years.
What do you think the future holds for certification?
Keeping in mind that ISO itself does not carry out certification, we remain neutral on this issue of certification. However, I firmly believe that ISO does have a role in encouraging implementation of any ISO standard in a way that meets the intent of the technical committee that developed the standard. Any ‘shaky’ certificates reflect poorly on everyone in the standards and conformity assessment business and therefore everyone in the business has a role to play to improve certification performance and quality.
For more information about the International Organization for Standardization visit www.iso.org. ISO makes available the principal findings of the ISO 2008 survey free of charge on the ISO website
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