1. Introduction

ISO/TC 176 has the mandate of standardization in the field of generic quality management, including quality systems, quality assurance, and generic supporting technologies, including standards which provide guidance on the selection and use of these standards. TC 176 has been entrusted by the ISO Technical Management Board with the function of consultant to all ISO/TCs in the application of quality management and quality assurance in their specific technologies to ensure the integrity of the generic quality system standards, and prevent proliferation of sector-specific ISO quality systems.

ISO/CASCO has the mandate to study means of assessing conformity of product, processes, services and management systems to appropriate standards and other normative documents, to prepare international guides and standards of conformity assessment activities, and to promote their use.

ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC176 have established liaisons and have pursued cooperation where appropriate. Considering the growing importance worldwide of the ISO 9000 standards on quality management systems and of the ISO/IEC Standards on conformity assessment, ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 have established this joint framework for furthering effective coordination of their work, at strategic, operational and national level, with a view of increasing value for users of these standards. This agreement will receive priority when the two committees make decisions affecting their work programs.

2. Shared goals

2.1 Furthering compatibility between ISO 9000 and CASCO Standards
It is essential for ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 to keep enhancing market relevance of their products. Noting that ISO/CASCO is transfering existing Guides to International Standards and has started the investigation of the future structure of ISO/IEC Standards on conformity assessment 142f activities to ensure that they are simplified and more readily applicable, and further noting the revision of the ISO 9000 standards by ISO/TC 176, ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 share the goal of furthering the compatibility of the ISO 9000 standards on quality management systems and ISO/IEC Standards on conformity assessment in relation with the needs of users of these standards. This compatibility will address among other things the terminology used and the management system requirements contained in the standards.

(Note: ISO/IEC Guide 2:1996 defines "compatibility" as the "suitability of products, processes or services for use together under specific conditions to fulfil relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions".)

2.2 Upgrading common and consistent communications
It is important for ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 to upgrade their communications to ensure that messages are received and understood by those to whom they are intended. Noting that joint messages are useful when there is a market need to have internationally common and consistent guidance on appropriate implementation or a better understanding of their standards, and considering the current status of their work, especially in the transitional stages, another shared goal of ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 is to further collaborate in the development of common and consistent messages with other relevant international organizations, whenever useful.

2.3 Preserving the integrity of the standards
ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 also share the goal of cooperating between themselves and with other bodies in the preservation of the intent of the standards they produce throughout the conformity chain, whenever this is pertinent.

3. Coordination approach

In order to achieve the goals mentioned above, ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 will pursue the following coordination.

3.1 Strategic coordination
The chairs and secretaries of ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 will continue to periodically exchange information on each others' work, through direct attendance at the meetings of their respective advisory groups (CASCO/CAG and TC 176/CSAG) and plenaries, and/or the exchange of written reports on the current status of their work. They will also exchange their respective work programs every time these are updated as well as other documents such as ISO/CASCO Strategies to be prepared triennially and CASCO-related ISO's Strategic Agenda (SA) to be prepared annually, and ISO/TC 176 Strategic Plan and Business Plan. Where areas of common interest are identified, they will collaborate in the development of appropriate strategic initiatives.

3.2 Operational coordination
At the operational level, the Secretaries of ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 will establish liaisons between relevant ISO/CASCO working groups and ISO/TC 176 subcommittees and working groups, exchange working documents and nominate representatives at the earliest possible time, whenever a new work item is being proposed or whenever an existing document is to be revised or amended.

3.3 National coordination
The national member bodies of ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 have the responsibility to organize their national inputs to the respective committees in an efficient and timely manner, taking account of all the relevant interests at their national level. In order to reinforce the strategic and operational coordination at the committee level, it is recommended for national member bodies that participate in both ISO/CASCO and ISO/TC 176 to present common views and positions at both committees whenever common interests are identified.

4. Joint progress reports
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