MUSCAT -- In order to update the markets on the changes from the ISO 9000-2000 version to ISO 9001-2008 version, a seminar highlighting the salient features and significant updates to ISO 9001-2008 was conducted here yesterday. Hosted by Vanguard Training and Consultancy Services at the Crowne Plaza Muscat the seminar assessed the multitude of advantages that the up-gradation can bring in to the business.
"There are some minor changes in the new version but more of them are rephrasing while some have an effect of the existing system", says Peter Hamel, Regional Manager, Vanguard. "And the other point is that we wanted to create a knowledge transfer between different industries and give our participants the opportunity to learn about various solutions and ways how to implement the requirements of ISO 9000-2008" Peter said.
"The reason why we actually came up with such an idea of holding a seminar is that there is an acute necessity of awareness of the true spirit behind a quality management system" says Nasreen Khalid, Manager, Training. "This has been emphasised by the people whom we spoke, ministries where we visited, the people whom we interacted with in the industries, etc. who opined it as only a paper pushing exercise". She explained.
In ISO 9000-2000 version, if the company wants to become an ISO 9000, they have to hire a consultant who would study their system and will come back with a proposal to develop these. Once the system is developed and everything is up to the requirement of standard, then an external auditor will be hired to carry out an audit for this system which is called certification audit. And a certificate will be issued saying that they are compliant with the ISO 9000. This system, the 2008 version is an update of the older version. Eminent speakers such as Ibrahim Said al Amri, Susan Bagyura, Aftab Bandukwala, Simon Joseph, and Soman Pillai were among the speakers.
By Kabeer Yousuf
© Oman Daily Observer 2009
