ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Clauses:
6.1.5 The inspection body shall have documented procedures for selecting, training, formally authorizing, and monitoring inspectors and other personnel involved in inspection activities.
6.2.11 Where relevant for the outcome of inspection activities, the inspection body shall have procedures for the following:
- a) selection and approval of suppliers.
- b) verification of incoming goods and services.
- c) ensuring appropriate storage facilities.
What is the difference between documented procedures and procedures?
March 2014
In 17000:2020 standard (Conformity assessment — Vocabulary and general principles) procedure is defined as:
3.2. procedure: Specified way to carry out an activity or a process.
Note 1 to entry:17000 in this context, a process is defined as a set of interrelated or interacting activities that use inputs to deliver an intended result.
[SOURCE: ISO 9000:2015, 3.4.5 modified – the original Note to entry has been replaced with a new Note to entry]
And in 9000:2015 standard (Quality management systems — Fundamentals and vocabulary), clause 3.4.5, which has the same definition, there is the note:
Note 1. Procedures can be documented or not.
Then it can be understood that where ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard asks for “documented procedures” then the procedures have to be documented.
And where the standard asks for “procedures” there might not be a documented procedure. In this case the inspection body should have evidence to demonstrate that the procedure is known within the inspection body and that the implementation of the procedure fulfills the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.