FAQs

General FAQs

1. What is a Management System?

A management system is a set of policies, processes and procedures used by an organization to ensure that it can fulfill the tasks required to achieve its objectives.[1] These objectives cover many aspects of the organization's operations (including financial success, safe operation, product quality, client relationships, legislative and regulatory conformance and worker management). For instance, an environmental management system enables organizations to improve their environmental performance and an occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) enables an organization to control its occupational health and safety risks, etc.

2. What is an Integrated Management System?

An Integrated Management System (IMS) is the result of combining your quality management system ISO9001, environmental management system ISO14001, safety management system ISO45001 and/or etc. management systems. More and more companies are realizing the spared duplicity and other advantages of integrating their management systems into one manual, one system and often, one person coordinating all compliance.

3. What is ISO?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO; /ˈaɪsoʊ/) is an international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. Founded on 23 February 1947, the organization promotes worldwide proprietary, industrial, and commercial standards. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and works in 164 countries.

4. What is a Standard?

ISO creates documents that provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their purpose.

5. How are Standards Developed?

Like a symphony, it takes a lot of people working together to develop a standard. ISO’s role is similar to that of a conductor, while the orchestra is made up of independent technical experts nominated by ISO members. The experts form a technical committee that is responsible for a specific subject area. They begin the process with the development of a draft that meets a specific market need. This is then shared for commenting and further discussion. From fist proposal to final publication, developing a standard usually takes about 3 years.

6. What are the Benefits of Standards?

ISO was founded with the idea of answering a fundamental question: “What’s the best way of doing this?” It started with the obvious things like weights and measures, and over the last 50 years has developed into a family of standards that cover everything from the shoes we stand in, to the Wi-Fi networks that connect us invisibly to each other. Addressing all these and more, International Standards mean that consumers can have confidence that their products are safe, reliable and of good quality. ISO’s standards on road safety, toy safety secure medial packaging are just a few of those that help make the world a safer place. Regulators and governments count on ISO standards to help develop better regulations, knowing they have sound basis thanks to the involvement of globally established experts.

7. What is ITAR?

ITAR - ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) controls the export of equipment, technology and technical data that are primarily military in nature. It is unlawful under the ITAR regulations to send ITAR controlled technical data to any foreign persons outside the United States or to disclose – in written, oral or visual form -- ITAR-controlled technical data to any foreign persons in or outside the United States unless one of several exclusions applies or the State Department has issued a license authorizing the disclosure or export of the technical data to specific foreign persons.

Standards FAQs

8. What is ISO 9001 Standard?

Quality Management System, ISO 9001 is an international standard that provides guidance and tools for companies and organizations who want to ensure that their products and services consistently meet customer’s requirements, and that quality is consistently improved. A quality management system allows organizations to continually monitor and manage quality across all operations.

9. What is AS 9100 Standard?

AS9100 is the international Quality Management System standard for the Aviation, Space and Defense (AS&D) industry, created by the IAQG. The standard provides suppliers with requirements for creating and maintaining a comprehensive quality system for providing safe and reliable products to the ASD industry, as well as civil & military aviation requirements.

10. What is ISO 27001 Standard?

ISO 27001 allows for specific tailoring of risks and the appropriate protection necessary. Having an effective Information Security Management System (ISMS) in place and becoming certified to ISO 27001 has a vast array of benefits. It requires businesses to identify risks to their information and put in place security measures to manage or reduce those risks. ISO 27001 is also based on continual improvement and requires companies to regularly review the effectiveness of their ISMS and ensures they stay ahead of the curve for emerging information security risks.

11. What is ISO 45001 Standard?

Safety Management System, ISO 45001 Health and Safety precautions and processes in the workplace are paramount to your employee’s wellbeing. The ISO 45001 standard is the optimal benchmark used to measure safety management systems for organizations. A Safety Management System ensures that you and your employees are protected through identifying and managing potential safety risks, implementing processes to safeguard workplace procedure, and complying with relevant Health and Safety Regulations in your state.

12. What is ISO 14001 Standard?

Environmental Management System, ISO 14001 focuses on minimizing negative impacts on the environment, complying with relevant environmental laws and regulations, and recognizing potential environmental hazards to your business. An environmental management system allows organizations to continually ensure that issues or factors pertinent to the environment aren’t overlooked.

13. What is ISO 13485 Standard?

ISO 13485 is, effectively, ISO 9001 specifically for medical device manufacturers. ISO 13485 incorporates ISO 9001, and adds or amends relevant sections to emphasize a risk management process to meet customer and regulatory requirements.

14. What is NADCAP AC7202 Standard?

AC7202 establishes the requirements for sealant value added distributors to be accredited by Nadcap. The purpose of this program is to assess a sealant value added distributor’s ability to consistently provide a product that conforms to sealant specifications and customer requirements. This is accomplished through physically witnessing repackaging activities, tracking and reviewing process documentation, and verifying that sealant specification requirements are being met.

15. What are API Q1 and Q2 Standards?

API Spec Q1 is a company level certification based on the standard developed and published by the American Petroleum Institute (API) titled "Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Manufacturing Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry". This certification is intended for companies who manufacture equipment or components of equipment used in oil and natural gas production. API Spec Q2 has been developed for Organizations providing Services and Product Services to the Oil & Gas Industry. Certifications are issued exclusively by API.

Accreditation Bodies FAQs

16. What is ANAB?

The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is a non-governmental organization that provides accreditation services and training to public- and private-sector organizations, serving the global marketplace. ANAB is the largest accreditation body in North America and provides services in more than 75 countries.

17. What is JAS-ANZ?

The Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ) helps markets work better by providing internationally recognized accreditation services that create economic benefit.

18. What is HITRUST?

Leveraging the HITRUST CSF, the HITRUST Assurance Program provides organizations and their stakeholders with a common approach to managing information security assessments that creates efficiencies and reduces the effort and costs associated with meeting assurance requirements. The HITRUST Assurance Program includes risk management oversight and assessment methodology governed by HITRUST and designed for the unique regulatory and business needs of various industries and geographies.

19. What is NADCAP?

Nadcap (formerly NADCAP, the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) is a global cooperative accreditation program for aerospace engineering, defense and related industries. The Nadcap program is administered by the Performance Review Institute (PRI). Nadcap was established in 1990 by SAE International. Nadcap's membership consists of "prime contractors" who coordinate with aerospace accredited suppliers to develop industry-wide audit criteria for special processes and products. Through PRI, Nadcap provides independent certification of manufacturing processes for the industry.[1]

20. What is API?

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. It claims to represent about 650 corporations involved in production, refinement, distribution, and many other aspects of the petroleum industry. The association describes its mission as to influence public policy in support of a strong, viable U.S. oil and natural gas industry. API's chief functions on behalf of the industry include advocacy, negotiation and lobbying with governmental, legal, and regulatory agencies; research into economic, toxicological, and environmental effects; establishment and certification of industry standards; and education outreach.