Application of ISO 9000 in Engineering, Procurement & Construction Projects, 1993 Engineering Conference Proceedings

Larry Albrecht

The IS0 9000 Quality Management and Quality Assurance Standards, which originated in Europe and spread throughout much of the world, are becoming increasingly important to pulp and paper producers in North America. A logical outgrowth of utilizing the quality management and quality assurance principles of IS0 9000 to produce forest products is to apply IS0 9000 to new and expanded facility engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) projects. IS0 9000 is well suited to major EPC projects because it provides a universally accepted set of standards for quality management and quality assurance. The standards are applicable to the products and services required at all levels of the procurement chain from the major contractors to the critical subsuppliers. When properly implemented, IS0 9000 gives the facility owner added confidence that each contractor and supplier has planned and executed its work in a manner that ensures project requirements are known and met.

While there are advantages to conducting an EPC project under IS0 9000, several changes must take place in North America for the benefits to be fully realized. Owners must take the lead by requiring that contractors and suppliers comply with IS0 9000 for critical activities, materials and equipment on the project. Contractors and suppliers, in turn, must develop IS0 quality systems and must pass along the requirement for IS0 9000 to their suppliers and verify compliance. Internationally, common rules for registration and recognition of various countries’ schemes are needed.