Is clause 8.3 applicable?

Clause 8.3 is applicable both to products and services. Even if the design and development of the service are done by an outsider, clause 8.3 is still applicable, and in that case, your organization outsourced that process. Clause 8.3 is not applicable if your organization does not control the design. For example, consider a training company, it develops training services, clause 8.3 is applicable to the design of each course. Another example is an organization that prepares courses under the specifications and orientation of their customer, a training company. In that case, clause 8.3 is not applicable to the organization

You can find more information about applicability here:

• ISO 9001 – What clauses can be excluded in ISO 9001:2015? - https://advisera.com/9001academy/blog/2015/07/07/what-clauses-can-be-excluded-in-iso-90012015/2015/
• free online training ISO 9001:2015 Foundations Course - https://advisera.com/training/iso-9001-foundations-course/
• book - Discover ISO 9001:2015 Through Practical Examples - https://advisera.com/books/discover-iso-9001-2015-through-practical-examples/
  

Hi Carlos. Would it be appropriate for a company that plans and conducts audits and workshops to indicate that clause 8.3 is not applicable to its QMS?

Hi Paula, thank you for your question.

The answer to your question depends on the scope of the company’s QMS. If the company has a “closed” scope, something like planning and conducting ISO 9001 audits and workshops, clause 8.3 is not applicable because the organization already has its range of services designed and implemented. However, if the scope is “open”,  something like planning and conducting audits and workshops, clause 8.3 is applicable because tomorrow the organization may open its services to auditing according to other standards, and those new services will be within the scope of the QMS.

What about in ITSM companies that do consultancy on  migration, patchworks etc?. They conceptualize (they call it conceptual design) but the tools (like apps or software) are commercial available and they just fit it to the clients needs. 

Hi Pete, thank you for your question.

If by ITSM you mean how IT teams manage the end-to-end delivery of IT services to customers, including all the processes and activities to design, create, deliver, and support IT services. Then, clause 8.3 is applicable to ITSM companies. Here, design is not about the tools (like apps or software), but about the right arrangement of the tools, assets and processes.

Hi Pete, thank you for your question.

If by ITSM you mean how IT teams manage the end-to-end delivery of IT services to customers, including all the processes and activities to design, create, deliver, and support IT services. Then, clause 8.3 is applicable to ITSM companies. Here, design is not about the tools (like apps or software), but about the right arrangement of the tools, assets and processes.