NQA-1 vs. ISO

NQA-1 and ISO 9001 are quality assurance standards that are employed by nuclear facilities around the country. These regulatory requirements are for businesses in the nuclear industry to follow in order to ensure a safe and efficient operation.

In essence, they do have some similarities. Both have strict criteria in place for the control of documents and other records. They both require internal audits and corrective actions from site staff, and are a solid framework for organizations looking to establish a quality management structure.

Learn more about the NQA-1 PRO-Tector™ Safe - The only safe designed to meet the highest standards and requirements

However, although they may look similar, and lay down comparable guidelines, the implementation of these two standards can in fact be very different. For instance, NQA-1 is very much a safety-driven standard, while ISO 9001 is a more process-based standard.

ISO 9001 is also not an industry-specific model, and is therefore used in many different commercial sectors. NQA-1, on the other hand, is a very distinctive standard that was specifically created for quality assurance at nuclear sites. Lastly, the NQA-1 document is very prescriptive, while the ISO standard is considered more flexible in how its requirements are met.

A recent study of the two standards by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) showed that the requirements of NQA-1 were more rigorous and demanding in the areas of design controls, software controls, internal/external audits, staff training, and the dispositioning of nonconforming supplies.

The NRC concluded that although ISO 9001 was acceptable as a management standard that promoted customer satisfaction, additional requirements would need to be added to it before they could endorse it as a regulatory framework within the nuclear industry.

Today, some organizations are known to use both standards simultaneously. For instance, many buildings at a nuclear facility do not need such strict safety regulations, so ISO 9001 may be employed on the same site as NQA-1. However, NQA-1 standards and certifications are widely accepted as the more stringent of the two, and is the standard that promotes the highest levels of safety and quality assurance in a nuclear environment.

NQA-1 and ISO 9001 are quality assurance standards that are employed by nuclear facilities around the country. These regulatory requirements are for businesses in the nuclear industry to follow in order to ensure a safe and efficient operation.

In essence, they do have some similarities. Both have strict criteria in place for the control of documents and other records. They both require internal audits and corrective actions from site staff, and are a solid framework for organizations looking to establish a quality management structure.

Learn more about the NQA-1 PRO-Tector™ Safe - The only safe designed to meet the highest standards and requirements

However, although they may look similar, and lay down comparable guidelines, the implementation of these two standards can in fact be very different. For instance, NQA-1 is very much a safety-driven standard, while ISO 9001 is a more process-based standard.

ISO 9001 is also not an industry-specific model, and is therefore used in many different commercial sectors. NQA-1, on the other hand, is a very distinctive standard that was specifically created for quality assurance at nuclear sites. Lastly, the NQA-1 document is very prescriptive, while the ISO standard is considered more flexible in how its requirements are met.

A recent study of the two standards by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) showed that the requirements of NQA-1 were more rigorous and demanding in the areas of design controls, software controls, internal/external audits, staff training, and the dispositioning of nonconforming supplies.

The NRC concluded that although ISO 9001 was acceptable as a management standard that promoted customer satisfaction, additional requirements would need to be added to it before they could endorse it as a regulatory framework within the nuclear industry.

Today, some organizations are known to use both standards simultaneously. For instance, many buildings at a nuclear facility do not need such strict safety regulations, so ISO 9001 may be employed on the same site as NQA-1. However, NQA-1 standards and certifications are widely accepted as the more stringent of the two, and is the standard that promotes the highest levels of safety and quality assurance in a nuclear environment.