Approved by the Engineering Practice Policy Committee on March 23, 2023
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on April 19, 2023
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 22, 2023
Policy
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the development and application of quality management system standards, including international standards such as the ISO-9001, ISO-14001, ISO-37001 and the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) Q90 series, to professional engineering services and the application of those standards to the constructed project, including certification and registration procedures to recognize that quality management processes are in place within an organization. Care must be taken, however, to ensure management system standards are consistent with civil engineering standards of practice and the principles of sustainable development, life-cycle performance, and resiliency.
Issue
The ISO 9000 family of standards is related to quality management systems and designed to help organizations ensure that they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders, while meeting statutory and regulatory requirements related to their product. The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National standards bodies. ISO 9000 deals with the fundamentals of quality management systems, while ISO 9001 deals with the requirements that organizations wishing to meet the standard have to fulfill.
The ISO-9000 family of standards, and similar standards, are generic in nature. Auditors employed by registrars and accrediting organizations must be qualified for the scope of services being evaluated, with knowledge of the civil engineering profession for application to civil engineering projects.
Rationale
ASCE has long had a commitment to promoting quality in civil engineering services and projects. The application of quality management standards such as ISO-9001, ISO-14001, ISP-37001 and ASQC Q90 to civil engineering can be an appropriate means for improving quality in the civil engineering profession and the construction industry.
ASCE cooperates with other organizations seeking to develop and provide guidance for implementation of international quality management system standards to the constructed project and other engineering services. ASCE continues to support worldwide recognition of registration status under ISO-9001, ISO-14001, ISO-37001, and ASQC Q90 and mutual recognition agreements between qualified accrediting organizations.
This policy has worldwide application
ASCE Policy Statement 431
First Approved in 1994