ISO/TS 22163:2017 (IRIS)

In the context of InnoTrans 2016 – the International Trade Fair for Transport Technology – that took place in Berlin in September, UNIFE (Association of the European Rail Industry) published the transition plan for IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard) to become a fully acknowledged ISO/TS standard. After ten years of existence, the railway’s own standard is thus finally awarded international recognition officially.

On track for the future: IRIS now ISO/TS IRIS. Deadline for transition is 14 September 2018.

Background

The shift of IRIS requirements to an ISO/TS standard mainly aims at guaranteeing an even better-quality management, increased process efficiency and an excellent product quality.

InnoTrans 2016 in Berlin was the platform chosen by UNIFE (Association of the European Rail Industry) to “go public” with the long-awaited Transition Plan for the railway industry’s own standard to become a full-fledged ISO standard in its own right. The development that was started in 2006 now includes close to 2 200 production sites in 52 countries.

Timeline

Transition plan

  • 01.06.2017: Publication of the new standard ISO/TS 22163:2017
  • 01.07.2018: all audits started after this date must be according to the new standard ISO/TS 22163:2017
  • All organizations certified against IRIS Revision 02.1. + Addendum 2015 shall successfully transit to ISO/TS IRIS by 14th September 2018.
  • IRIS Rev. 02 certificates to expire on 14 September 2018 (along with those for ISO 9001:2008)

Transition Process

The transition process includes the following steps:

  • Transition audit (Stage1 – readiness review and Stage 2 – certification audit)
  • Management of non-conformities
  • Issuance of the certificate

Transition Audit (Readiness Review and Certification Audit)

  • Option 1: transition process within their current IRIS rev. 02 audit cycle i.e. at the next planned surveillance or re-certification audit date.
  • Option 2: Transition process at any time i.e. outside the surveillance and re-certification audit cycle.

UNIFE and DQS believe that this evolution will bring more confidence, as well as a higher acceptance in the sector, trust within the supply chain and overall global recognition.

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