Differences between ISO 9001 & ISO 9001:2000

The Evolution

There really is no difference between ISO 9001 and ISO 9001:2000. These terms are all used to describe the ISO 9001 standard.

The Evolution Leading to ISO 9001:2000 Standard
Prior to December 2000, there used to be an ISO 9001, an ISO 9002 and an ISO 9003 standard. Without focusing on the technical differences between them, people would just simply refer to each as ISO 9000.

In December 2000, ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003 all were merged into a revised ISO 9001 standard. In order to distinguish between the previous ISO 9001 version, the current standard is often referred to as ISO 9001:2000. However, many people don’t know about all the other standards that the International Organization for Standardization published, and they simply refer to the most famous standard (ISO 9001) as ISO.

The Impact on the ISO 9001:2000 Assessment
The ISO 9001:2000 standard is a radical revision of the prior ISO 9000 standard. It requires companies that have previously been certified to update their current quality systems. It also changes the ground rules for all the organizations that are seeking or who will seek registration in the future. National standards bodies, registrars, consultants, and the other groups who support the standard must now contend with a new set of challenges and opportunities.

Like its predecessor, ISO 9001:2000 is really a series of three interrelated standards. Each has a different function: ISO 9000 deals with fundamentals and vocabulary; ISO 9001, the heart of the new revision, states the requirements for the new system; ISO 9004 provides guidance for implementation, and fleshes out ISO 9001.