ISO Glossary of Terms

When an organization hires an outside to perform a function or process, this is outsourcing.

It is an external organization asked to perform part of a function or process normally done within the organization. While an outsourced organization is beyond the scope of your QMS, the outsourced process or function itself falls within your scope.

An output is the result of a process. Outputs can be either tangible or intangible. The output from one process is often the input for another process.

individual who accompanies the audit team but does not act as an auditor

data supporting the existence or verity of something

Note 1 to entry: Objective evidence can be obtained through observation, measurement, test or by other means.

Note 2 to entry: Objective evidence for the purpose of the audit generally consists of records, statements of fact, or other information which are relevant to the audit criteria and verifiable.

non-fulfilment of a requirement

Is equipment to carry out a measurement process. Measuring equipment includes instruments and apparatuses as well as all the associated
software, standards, and reference materials.

set of interrelated or interacting elements of an organization to establish policies and objectives, and processes to achieve those objectives

Note 1 to entry: A management system can address a single discipline or several disciplines, e.g. quality management, financial management or environmental management.

Note 2 to entry: The management system elements establish the organization’s structure, roles and responsibilities, planning, operation, policies, practices, rules, beliefs, objectives and processes to achieve those objectives.

Note 3 to entry: The scope of a management system can include the whole of the organization, specific and identified functions of the organization, specific and identified sections of the organization, or one or more functions across a group of organizations. [

audit carried out at a single auditee by two or more auditing organizations

Stands for the International Organization for Standardization which is based in Geneva.

This is an internal review of a company’s activities conducted by the company's own staff.  It reviews individual processes or procedures their documentation, conformance & Employee Competence.

The term, interested party, refers to anyone that affects, or is affected by a decision or activity. An interested party is a person, group, or organization that has an interest in or is has a stake in a decision or activity.

A verification activity. For example, measuring, examining, testing and gauging one or more characteristics of a product or service and comparing the results with specified requirements to determine whether conformity is achieved for each characteristic.

International Automotive Task Force (IATF): An ad hoc group of automotive manufacturers (for example, General Motors, Ford, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, BMW, Volkswagen and Renault) and their respective trade associations (for example, Automotive Industry Action Group, the German Association of the Automotive Industry and the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders) formed to provide improved quality products to automotive customers worldwide.

Standards on the same subject approved by different standardizing bodies that establish interchangeability of products, processes and services, or mutual understanding of test results or information provided according to these standards. (see ISO/IEC Guide 2, 2004, Definition 6.1).

A report on where a company currently stands, and where they need to be, against the compulsory elements of the standard/s.