An Overview on International Standard on 'Quality Management - Guidelines for Training'

- Keshav Ram Singhal


International Organization for Standardization (ISO) had published an international standard on 'Quality management - Guidelines for training' in the year 1999. ISO 10015:1999 is a standard, that provides guidelines to assist organizations and their personnel when addressing issues related to training. This standard may be applied whenever guidance is needed with reference to 'education' and 'training' within ISO 9000 family of standards. A number of internal and external factors (such as changes in markets, technology, innovation, customer requirements, etc.) may affect performance of an organization's personnel, for which the organization needs to analyze its competence-related needs.



ISO 10015:1999 provides guidance that can help an organization to:
- identify and analyze training needs
- design and plan the training needs
- evaluate training outcomes
- monitor and improve the training process

Guidelines mentioned in ISO 10015:1999 cover the development, implementation. maintenance, and improvement of strategies and systems for training. These guidelines are meant for all types of organization, regardless of type, size and the produced products or services. Training providers may also use ISO 10015:1999 standard to address training needs of their personnel. ISO 10015:1999 mentions four-stage process of training, which are (i) Define training needs, (ii) Design and plan training, (iii) Provide for training, and (iv) Evaluate training outcomes.



ISO 10015:1999 standard has following clauses:

1 - Scope
2 - Normative reference
3 - Terms and definitions - This clause define related terms: (i) Competence, (ii) Training.

4 - Guidelines for training
4.1 - Training: A four-stage process
4.1.1 - General
4.1.2 - Purchase of training-related products and services
4.1.3 - Involvement of personnel

4.2 - Defining training needs
4.2.1- General
4.2.2 - Defining needs of the organization
4.2.3 - Defining and analysing competence requirements
4.2.4 - Reviewing competence
4.2.5 - Defining competence gaps
4.2.6 - Identifying solutions to close the competence gaps
4.2.7 - Defining the specifications for training needs

4.3 - Designing and planning training
4.3.1 - General
4.3.2 - Defining the constraints
4.3.3 - Training methods and criteria for selection
4.3.4 - Training plan specification
4.3.5 - Selecting a training provider

4.4 - Providing for the training
4.4.1 - General
4.4.2 - Providing support
4.4.2.1 - Pre-training support
4.4.2.2 - Training support
4.4.2.3 - End-of-training support

4.5 - Evaluating training outcomes
4.5.1 - General
4.5.2 - Collecting data and preparing an evaluation report

ISO 10015:1999 standard provides five tables mentioning inputs, process, outputs and record:
Table A.1 - Defining training needs
Table A.2 - Designing and planning the training
Table A.3 - Providing for the training
Table A.4 - Evaluating training outcomes
Table A.5 - Monitoring and improving training needs

ISO 10015:1999 standard is priced Swiss franc 88 and can be obtained from the Central Secretariat of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) - Website: iso.org.

On the recommendation of the Quality Management Sectional Committee (MSD 2) and approval of the Management and Systems Division Council, Bureau of India Standards (BIS) had adopted ISO 10015:1999 as Indian Standard and published identical Indian Standard IS/ISO 10015:1999 and reaffirmed in 2004, which can be obtained from the sales counter of BIS (Website - bis.org.in) at the price within India of Indian Rupees 340. Price are subject to change.

Please note: The writer of this article is available for 'ISO 10015 Awareness' training as a trainer and organizations can contact mentioning their requirements.