FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1997-06-20

Canadian to head ISO 9000 standards development effort

Canadian Dr. Pierre F. Caillibot has been named chair of the international committee responsible for the ISO 9000 series of quality management systems standards. The appointment was announced today by the Standards Council of Canada.

Dr. Caillibot, quality systems adviser to the general manager of procurement and services at Hydro-Québec, will chair technical committee 176 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The committee brings together experts from 76 countries to develop and improve the ISO 9000 series of standards. The series can be applied by any organization in any sector to achieve customer satisfaction.

Canada has played a key role in ISO/TC 176 since its inception in 1979. Dr. Caillibot succeeds Reginald Shaughnessy, a Canadian who distinguished himself as chair of the committee for the past decade. Mr. Shaughnessy's vision and leadership are credited bringing about much of the prominence enjoyed by the standards today. The secretariat for the committee is provided by the Canadian Standards Association on behalf of the Standards Council, the Canadian member body of ISO.

Dr. Caillibot, a metallurgical engineer, brings 25 years of experience in the development of national and international standards to his new voluntary position. Most recently he was appointed chair of the Standards Council's Canadian National Committee on ISO, which oversees Canada's participation in the international standards body. Dr. Caillibot is a certified lead auditor and examiner for the Canada Awards for Excellence program. He has been chairman of the Association québécoise de la qualité and chairs the Accademia Qualitas training center. He was, until this new appointment, chairman of the Canadian Advisory Committee to ISO/TC 176.

The ISO 9000 series is among the most influential collection of voluntary standards ever developed. According to a survey conducted by Mobil Corporation, some 127,000 organizations had obtained registration by December 1995, and based on past growth, this number could exceed 180,000 today. In addition, many organizations use the standards for control and improvement purposes, without seeking registration.

Major purchasers, such as automotive manufacturers and governments - including Canada's federal government and a number of provincial governments - require ISO 9000 conformity as a condition of purchase for some products and services. For Canadian exporters, ISO 9000 registration has become an effective tool to open doors to foreign markets.

ISO/TC 176 is currently working towards a revision of the ISO 9000 series that will affect the contents, organization and ease of application of the standards. The revision is expected to be completed by the year 2000.

ISO brings together volunteers from 120 countries to develop international standards for a wide range of products, services and systems. The Standards Council is a federal Crown corporation whose mandate is to promote efficient and effective voluntary standardization. CSA is an independent, not-for-profit organization supported by more than 8,000 members and has offices in Canada, the U.S. and around the world. Established in 1919, it is a leader in the field of standards development and the application of these standards through product certification, management systems registration and information products.

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