What is Product Realization in an ISO9001:2000 quality system?
One of the somewhat nebulous and confusing terms in ISO is “product realization”. It took me a while to understand this concept, and I know I’m not alone. The reality is that it is an extremely simple concept.
Product Realization is simply realizing your product. OK, maybe that’s a little too simple.
Here is Webster’s definition:
realization: 1) the action of realizing; the state of being realized
realize: 1a) to bring into concrete existence: ACCOMPLISH - as in “they finally realized their goal”
Product realization means making your product - the activities and processes necessary for you to bring your product into existence.
OK, so let’s say you are a Home Inspector who wants to get ISO certification…hey, it could happen. Your “product” is not a tangible object, it is a service. That’s OK, in the eyes of ISO9001:2000 a service can be considered as your “product”. Whatever processes you use to accomplish your final product or service is your process of product realization.
Chances are your product realization process is actually a series of several processes. I’ve never seen one business that has only one process needed to achieve product realization.
Product realization is simply doing whatever it takes to get your product (or service) to your customer.
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