The International Organization for Standardization recently released guidelines for local governments to implement ISO 9001.

More than 670,400 organizations in 154 countries have already implemented ISO 9001. However, the new guidelines explain the standard in terms more familiar to local government and relate ISO 9001’s requirements to their context. ISO reports that this will make it easier for them to implement the standard. The guidelines are detailed in IWA 4, “Quality management systems—Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2000 in local governments,” which isn’t intended for certification. It gives advice on the implementation of ISO 9001, but doesn’t alter its requirements. IWA 4 includes two annexes. The first offers examples of the services and associated processes that local governments should strive to provide, and the second describes a diagnostic model that can be used as a starting point for the implementation of a reliable QMS by local governments.

“The performance of local authorities can have a tremendous impact on citizens and economic actors at large, and so IWA 4 will help to improve quality where it counts—in the everyday lives of people and companies,” says Alan Bryden, ISO secretary-general.

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