ISO Glossary of Terms

World Standards Cooperation

The process of establishing that audit results:

1. meet defined requirements
2. satisfy the intended purpose

Traceability is the property of the result of a measurement or the value of a standard.  It can be related to stated references, usually national or international standards, through a consistent chain of comparisons with stated uncertainties

person who provides specific knowledge or expertise to the audit team

Note 1 to entry: Specific knowledge or expertise relates to the organization, the activity, process, product, service, discipline to be audited, or language or culture.

Note 2 to entry: A technical expert to the audit team (3.14) does not act as an auditor

Individual, or group of individuals, with interests that may affect, or be affected by, an organization (from ISO 26000: 2010, definition 2.20).

This is defined as a document prescribing the requirements with the product, process or service has to which it must conform.

effect of uncertainty

Note 1 to entry: An effect is a deviation from the expected – positive or negative.

Note 2 to entry: Uncertainty is the state, even partial, of deficiency of information related to, understanding or knowledge of, an event, its consequence and likelihood.

Note 3 to entry: Risk is often characterized by reference to potential events and consequences, or a combination of these.

Note 4 to entry: Risk is often expressed in terms of a combination of the consequences of an event (including changes in circumstances) and the associated likelihood of occurrence.

need or expectation that is stated, generally implied or obligatory

Note 1 to entry: “Generally implied” means that it is custom or common practice for the organization and interested parties that the need or expectation under consideration is implied.

Note 2 to entry: A specified requirement is one that is stated, for example in documented information.

This is an accredited organizations that issue ISO certifications.

A Re-Certification Audit is a formal evaluation of a company’s management system to ensure full compliance is met to allow for an additional year (or two).

The component of the quality control procedure that is concerned with maintaining process variability within required limits

set of interrelated or interacting activities that use inputs to deliver an intended result

Documented steps or actions to accomplish something; an established way of doing things. It ensures a consistent and repetitive approach to actions.

A definite and documented course, procedure or method of action to guide and determine present and future decisions. ISO mandates a Quality Policy be developed and used as a basis for quality objectives.

measurable result

Note 1 to entry: Performance can relate either to quantitative or qualitative findings.

Note 2 to entry: Performance can relate to the management of activities, processes, products, services, systems or organizations.