| ISO9001: 1994 has often uses the word of "specific requirements", but there is no definition in ISO8402: 1994. In Japan, some assessors said specific requirements also cover quality system requirements. |
| Later in 1997, ISO9000-2: 1997 defines the word in its definitions. It says that the word has two meanings. |
| The one is "Product requirements prescribed by the customer and agreed by the supplier". The other is "Requirements prescribed by the supplier that are perceived as satisfy a market need". Both are product requirements. |
| In ISO9001: 1994 when requirements cover quality systems it says like "the requirements of this International Standard". Therefore, we can distinguish product requirements from quality system requirements. |
| But according to the definition of ISO9000-2: 1997, specific requirements which are used in 4.6.1 in ISO9001: 1994 has a contradictory meaning, because generally specific requirements for purchased products are not prescribed by the customer. Suppliers ( |
| (Organizations) decide the requirements for subcontractors (suppliers). |
| In ISO9001: 2000 it uses the words of " specified purchase requirements". This is precise and correct. |
| Now, in ISO9001: 2000 uses the word of " requirements" and the words of "specific requirements" has disappeared and " requirements" has its definition in 3.1.2 of ISO9000: 2000. Its Note 2 says that a qualifier can be used to denote a specific type of requirements, e.g. product requirement, quality requirement, customer requirement.And there are many varieties of requirements in ISO9001: 2000."4.1 General requirements" mean quality management requirements. In a) of 5.4.2 it says, " to meet the requirements". These requirements mean also quality management requirements. Customer requirements sometimes mean product requirements only. It is confusing! |
| The definition is so abstract. So I made the following chart to explain the structure of requirements for easy understanding of variety of requirements. |
| You can put any requirements in columns to judge what kinds of requirements it is. |