Annex Sl

The most important event since ISO 9001?
A quarter of a century ago, in December 1987, ‘ISO 9001 Quality systems - Model for
quality assurance in design/development, production, installation and servicing’ was
published. This was the start of a global phenomenon which saw the range of ISO
management system standards (MSS) expand from environment (1996) through to
business continuity (2012)and accredited certifications approach 1.5 million*.
So what is this event that will have such a significant impact on organisations,
trainers, consultants, certification bodies, accreditation bodies, auditors and MSS
writers? It is the publication of Annex SL (previously ISO Guide 83) which defines the
framework for a generic management system. All new ISO MSS will adhere to this
frameworkand all current MSS will migrate at their next revision.
In future all ISO MSS should be consistent and compatible - they will all have the
same look and feel. This could be the beginning of the end of the conflicts,
duplication, confusion and misunderstanding from different MSS.
It is a challenge to auditors to focus their own and their clients' thinking on viewing
organisations’ managementsystems holistically.
*The ISO Survey 2010

IRCA Briefing note: Annex SL (previously ISO Guide 83)
Introduction
Due to recent proliferation, many organisations seek to implement and certify
multiple management system standards. This has led to the need to easily combine
or integrate them in an effective and efficient manner. The reality is that the various
management system standards allhave many apparently common requirements,
terms and definitions that are subtly or substantially different which has caused
confusion and inconsistent understanding and implementation. ISO/TMB has
produced this Annex with the objective of delivering consistent and compatible
management system standards.
Annex SL describes the framework for a generic management system. However, it
will requirethe addition of discipline-specific requirements to make a fully functional
quality, environmental, service management, food safety, business continuity,
information security and energy management system standard. Annex SL is freely
available; it is contained within the ISO Supplement, Procedures specific to ISO,
pages 131 to 154.

Consequences
In future all new management system standardswill have the same overall ‘look and
feel’. Current management system standards will migrate during their next revision.
This should be completed within the next few years.
For management system standards writers Annex SL will provide the template for
their work. They can concentrate their efforts on the discipline -specific requirements
which will be focused on clause 8 - Operation.
Formanagement system implementers this will provide an overall management
system framework within which they can pick and chose what discipline -specific
standards they need to include. Gone will be the conflicts and duplication, confusion
and misunderstanding from different management system standards. In future all
ISO management system standards should be consistent and compatible.
Formanagement system auditors, it will mean that for all audits there will be a core
set of generic requirements that need to be addressed no matter which discipline.
For IRCA training it could drive the development of training addressing the common
core set of requirements with additional training for discipline-specific requirements.

Overview
Annex SL addresses the requirements for proposals formanagement system
standards (MSS). It consists of 8 clauses and 4 appendices. The audience for this
annex is primarily ISO technical committees who develop management system
standards; however the impact of Appendix 3 of Annex SL will be felt by all users of
management system standards in the future. Appendix 3 is in three parts:
 high level structure,
 identical core text,
 common terms...