New Standard Applies ISO 9001 Principles to Nuclear Industry
"It is a win-win standard because it gives buyers the assurance of a standardized level of quality while securing safety and quality for those in the supply chain," said Bertrand-Marie Nahon, convenor of the working group that developed the standard.
A new ISO standard is focused on safety in the nuclear industry. Major accidents in the industry are rare, but the consequences are steep, which explains why the industry is a highly regulated business, including the safety and quality requirements for those in the supply chain that supply products and services important to the industry's safety.
The new standard applies the principles of one of the world's most popular quality standards, ISO 9001, to the nuclear sector, combining best practice in quality with the specific requirements of the nuclear industry. ISO 19443, Quality management systems – Specific requirements for the application of ISO 9001:2015 by organizations in the supply chain of the nuclear energy sector supplying products and services important to nuclear safety (ITNS), will help to increase the safety culture in the industry and harmonize supplier assessments, such as auditing, according to ISO's June 13 announcement.
Bertrand-Marie Nahon, convenor of the working group that developed the standard, which is part of technical committee ISO/TC 85, Nuclear energy, nuclear technologies, and radiological protection, said ISO 19443 will not only improve the understanding of quality requirements by suppliers, but also encourage all major nuclear industry players to work in the same direction. "It is a win-win standard because it gives buyers the assurance of a standardized level of quality while securing safety and quality for those in the supply chain," he said. "In addition, it is aligned with the many regulatory and industrial local and international requirements and allows organizations to better manage risks related to the construction of a nuclear power plant and, ultimately, improve their performance."
ISO 19443 was developed by 24 international experts working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is an official ISO partner. The secretariat of ISO/TC 85 is held by AFNOR, ISO's member for France.