ISO TS 22163

ISO 22163 Rail Quality Management

International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS)

International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS)

What is ISO 22163?

ISO 22163 is the global standard for quality management systems in the rail industry. It is based on the ISO 9001 quality management standard, with the addition of rail-specific requirements. Created to enhance competition and ensure higher quality standards, ISO 22163 aims to achieve global uniformity in language, assessment guidelines and audits.

Under the IRIS Certification Revision 04, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can pursue a simplified certification pathway: Simplified IRIS. This streamlined process features reduced documentation requirements and a simplified maturity level in the IRIS assessment sheet, serving as a stepping stone toward achieving full IRIS certification under ISO 22163.

Why is ISO 22163 certification important?

ISO 22163 was created to ensure higher quality standards in terms of facilities, operating equipment and services. It aims to achieve global uniformity in language, assessment guidelines and audits in order to create a higher level of transparency throughout the railway supply chain.

Rail industry organisations that achieve ISO 22163 certification obtain multiple benefits:

  • Deliver consistently high standards of quality
  • Comply with railway quality management standards
  • Discover quality management problems and resolve them fast
  • Gain a competitive edge by demonstrating your dedication to quality

TÜV SÜD is a trusted partner for ISO 22163 certification

TÜV SÜD is an international Certification Body with a worldwide presence. With more than 50 years of rail sector experience, including assessment, engineering consulting, testing and training, TÜV SÜD can help you meet the Standards of ISO 22163 certification - simplified IRIS or full IRIS certification.

We are an officially contracted body of UNIFE, The Association of the European Rail Industry. Our experienced auditors have the in-depth knowledge necessary to conduct initial certification and audits according to ISO 22163 certification regulations. This industry-leading expertise underpins the wide public awareness and first-class international reputation of the TÜV SÜD brand.

As part of our pledge to deliver unparalleled service quality, our ISO 22163 certification mark equips manufacturers with a powerful and visible demonstration of their commitment to quality. Beyond providing an assurance of safety to the rail industry, this establishes a clear competitive advantage by enabling customers to quickly identify that your management system has been evaluated by one of the most recognised names in technical safety.

Download the ISO 22163 infosheet here

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • How can I get started on Simplified IRIS or Full IRIS certification?

    Your organisation can take the following steps to achieve Simplified IRIS or Full IRIS certification:

    1. Register your company on IRIS-RAIL portal and select ‘TÜV SÜD Management Service’ as Certification Body from the drop down list.
    2. Your organisation prepares for certification by enrolling staff in training designed to build the knowledge and skills needed to implement Simplified or Full IRIS.
    3. Your team implements the standard by integrating its requirements into your processes and operations.
    4. Our experts assess your organisation and supply chain with an optional preliminary audit in preparation for the certification.
    5. We conduct an initial certification audit (phase I and II) according to the certification rules.
    6. Following positive audit results, your company will receive an UNIFE-registered certificate of three years validity.
    7. Once the certificate is issued, your company is listed in the UNIFE online portal.
    8. To ensure standards are maintained, we conduct annual surveillance audits in line with certification requirements.
    9. When your certificate expires, we can carry out a recertification audit.

    Contact us here to get started today!

EXPLORE

Rail Essentials
E-ssentials

Rail Essentials

Put safety at the heart of your railway operations.

Learn more

ISO 9001 2015 guidance
White paper

ISO 9001:2015 Guidance

A comprehensive guideline to ISO 9001:2015.

Learn more

VIEW ALL RESOURCES

Next Steps

Site Selector