Software processes, assessment and ISO 9000-certification: A user's view

Abstract

Abstract The Austrian Research Centre Seibersdorf and its IT-Department are involved in the development of critical computer systems and in standardization in this field for many years (SAFECOMP '89, '90, '91, '93, IEC SC 65A WG9 and WG10, IEC TC 56, partners in the European initiative ESPITI and the networks ENCRESS and OLOS). The certification process for ISO 9001 started with a pre-audit in December 1993, and the certificate was successfully achieved at the end of June 1994. ISO 9000–3 (somehow more process-related than ISO 9001) and the ESA Software Engineering Standards (lifecycle model, process models) were the key input to the Quality Management (QM) System of the IT-Department. Additionally, the Department of Information Technology has successfully applied for a BOOTSTRAP license early in 1994. Four members of the staff of the IT department are qualified as external BOOTSTRAP assessors at the moment. In preparation for ISO 9000-certification and during BOOTSTRAP-training we learnt much about organizations, process improvement and project management, especially by reviewing our own processes critically as well as reviewing the impact and relevance of the schemes to follow when ISO 9000 certification or BOOTSTRAP licensing is the goal to achieve. Direct as well as indirect business benefits were achieved.