News & Information

Companies who are currently registered to BS EN ISO9001/2/3:1994 will over the next three years have to change their registration to meet the requirements of BS EN ISO9001:2000. In future all organisations will be registered under the one standard with restrictions applying to the scope of registration, as defined on the certificate from the approving company (to allow distinguishing between those organisations that were previously registered to one of ISO9001 or 9002 or 9003.

The main changes to the standard are provided for information:

• continual improvement must be demonstrable;
• the company must identify its key processes;
• the company must demonstrate control over out-sourced processes (where there may be an effect on product conformity);
• the company must establish quality objectives;
• the standard is not in the way in which it asks companies to meet the requirements, for example in terms of documentation (it asks the question how do you comply);
• permissible exclusions must be noted, if any apply;
• all linkages must be defined;
• customer satisfaction must be enhanced;
• there must be effective communication on the effectiveness of the systems in place;
• the concept of input/outputs is used throughout the standard;
• key issues of training awareness and competence;
• a suitable environment is required to ensure product conformity;
• the standard utilises the concept of product realisation;
• the standard uses the term statistical techniques but anticipates that techniques such as risk assessment may be included;
• auditors may not audit their own work;
• management review has a much more holistic role;
• preventive action is required as well as corrective action (the plan should be protective in nature for the long term).

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CLIMATE CHANGE LEVY

This was introduced in the UK and came into effect on 1st April 2001 to encourage businesses to respond to the issue of climate change. Generally, this will mean a 10-20% increase in businesses’ energy costs.

Firms should be aware of their energy use in order to decide if the climate change levy is likely to be a financial issue. The Climate Change Levy affects all those in business, but those companies who spend £100,000 a year or more on energy costs or whose bill is a significant percentage of their operational costs should consider ways in which to reduce their energy costs.

The levy affects supplies of fuels for lighting, heating, power to industry, commerce, agriculture and public administration. It is charged on electricity, industrial gas, liquefied petroleum and several forms of coal and coke. For further details on levy rules and technical guidance, the following website is useful:

www.hmce.gov.uk/bus/excise/climchg.htm

If certain groups of companies commit to meeting targets for energy or carbon savings over a period of ten years, then a reduction of 80% on the levy is being offered, this is a climate change agreement. Currently such agreements are available only to heavy users i.e. those who are or will become subject to Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control legislation.

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