The International Organization for Standardization has published guidelines to bring a quality management approach to the rail sector.

ISO/TS 22163, Railway applications – Quality management system – Business management system requirements for rail organizations: ISO 9001:2015 and particular requirements for application in the rail sector, aims to help system integrators and equipment manufacturers in the rail sector make quality improvements through common best practices.

The technical specification is a sector-specific application of ISO 9001:2015 and was developed in collaboration with the Association of the European Rail Industry to build on its industry standard.

ISO/TS 22163 defines quality management system requirements for the rail sector that can be applied throughout the supply chain—including design and development, manufacturing, and maintenance.

Yuji Nishie, Chair of ISO/TC 269—the technical committee that developed ISO/TS 22163—said widespread use of the technical specification will result in better rail services and a stronger industry.

“Organizations focused on quality inevitably deliver more effective and reliable products and services, through instilling a culture that aims to meet the expectations of its customers,” Nishie said. “For the rail sector, the knock-on effect is enormous, with the potential to improve not only the reliability and safety of rail services, but driving a platform for greater innovation as well.”