0 ItemsInformation on IRIS
This page gives you an overview of the IRIS Certification® scheme – its components and functioning, quality performance levels, mechanisms for ensuring objectivity and transparency, and benefits to various rail sector companies.
Components of IRIS Certification®
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The IRIS Certification® scheme comprises:
ISO 22163:2023 IRIS Certification® Performance Assessment:2023 IRIS Certification® Technology that includes the Audit-Tool Web, the IRIS Portal, and the IRIS Certification® database. |
What is ISO 22163:2023?
ISO 22163:2023 is the standard specifying business management system requirements for rail organisations. ISO 22163:2023 is largely based on ISO 9001:2015, which is a general quality management system standard used by millions of companies around the world. In addition, the ISO 22163:2023 includes specific requirements tailor-made for the high-quality business management in the railway sector. The standard functions as a formula describing the best practices for business management in the rail sector. This document is owned and managed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), available for purchase on their website as well as on the websites of national standardisation bodies.
How to become IRIS certified?
Fulfilling the requirements brought out in the ISO 22163:2023 does not automatically grant a company an IRIS Certificate. In addition to fulfilling the requirements specified in the ISO 22163:2023 standard, the IRIS Certification® Performance Assessment:2023 defines rules and procedures that must be followed to be awarded with the certificate. Issued on 15 January 2025, the second edition of the IRIS Certification® Performance Assessment:2023 supersedes the first edition. The new document is available for purchase via the IRIS Portal Shop here.
What is IRIS Technology?
IRIS Technology enables the functioning of the IRIS Certification® scheme. Consisting of the IRIS Portal, the Audit-Tool Web and the database, IRIS Technology offers the necessary tools for awarding and maintaining the IRIS Certification® scheme as well as supporting companies in preparation of the audit.
The IRIS Portal refers to the www.iris-rail.org domain. The portal has a section that is available for everybody without being registered to the system where visitors can find generic information about the IRIS Certification® scheme, read news, browse for IRIS certified companies, and more. However, most of the IRIS Portal is accessible only to registered companies and IRIS-approved certification bodies, offering an online platform for monitoring and storing data, exchanging audit information, and more.
The IRIS database is part of the IRIS Portal providing all necessary information about the audits. Every passed audit report with an IRIS certificate will be included in the online database. The name and address of the audited company together with the scope and validity of the certificate are published. The audited company can choose to make more details of the audit available to their stakeholders by giving them specific access. Otherwise, this information is strictly confidential.
The IRIS Audit-Tool Web is an integral part of the IRIS Certification® system used for recording and evaluating data as well as generating standardized reports of IRIS Certification® audits. The IRIS Audit-Tool Web is essential for certification bodies during an IRIS Certification® audit, but it also allows all rail companies that use the tool to increase their quality performance internally. The tool can be purchased here by all rail companies seeking IRIS Certification® during an internal audit, allowing them to increase the quality performance and prepare their business management systems for an IRIS Certification® audit.
Quality Performance Levels
Quality performance levels are awarded to all IRIS certified companies to enhance the overall quality of the rail sector by focusing on the quality performance of rail businesses. There are three quality performance levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. To achieve a higher quality performance level, companies have to fulfil additional criteria improving the performance of their businesses. Quality performance level is displayed on the IRIS Portal along with other information related to all IRIS certified companies. Quality performance levels confirm not only the implementation of a quality management system but also the application and the measured results for the stakeholders.
Objectivity and Transparency
Objectivity and transparency are guaranteed by only using approved and independent certification bodies, known and recognized in the industry. The requirements for certification bodies and auditors are regulated. All certification bodies shall have an accreditation in accordance with ISO/IEC 17021:2015 and an approval from the IRIS Management Centre. Only IRIS-approved auditors who participated in the IRIS training and passed written and oral examination can perform IRIS Certification® audits. The auditors can only audit against their competence in a certain product category. Finally, auditors who comply with these requirements can work for their IRIS-approved sponsor certification body. Auditors are allowed to work for multiple certification bodies.
How does my company benefit from IRIS Certification®?
The successful implementation of IRIS Certification® creates a win-win situation for all stakeholders - equipment manufacturers, system integrators, operators, and business partners.
Equipment Manufacturers
Equipment manufacturers are able to improve their quality level and therefore promote a greater quality image. This enhances equipment manufacturers’ competitiveness, increases their value and visibility in the market. The IRIS Portal offers IRIS certified companies a platform to share their information to system integrators and prospective clients, on approval of the audited company.
In addition, following the best practices required for achieving IRIS Certification® allows equipment manufacturers to enhance business management systems and increase efficiency. This in turn results in lowered costs, higher product quality, and customer satisfaction.
Finally, equipment manufacturers are able to save time by only having to apply once for the certification, for both ISO 9001 and IRIS Certification® at the same time.
System Integrators
Transparent requirements are acceptable and applicable to all parties and become an integral part of the management systems in the participating companies.This results in improved quality among various production sites of system integrators. A uniform quality standard considerably simplifies the process of evaluating and approving suppliers, removing the need for system integrators‘ own approval audits. Additionally, system integrators are able to access accurate and reliable data from the common IRIS web database.
Operators
Operators benefit from the improvements across the entire supply chain, with enhanced equipment, rolling stock and signalling. They are able to rely on a demanding, internationally recognized standard for the whole industry. As a result, quality, safety and reliability increase as well as business management processes of the industry. Operators have also actively contributed to the IRIS Certification® rules and IRQB Guidelines by highlighting necessary implementations.
IRIS Facts & Figures
IRIS Facts & Figures highlights the most important IRIS data on just one page, presented to you in clear and visual manner. IRIS Facts & Figures allows you to quickly find out the latest number of IRIS certified companies, quality performance levels, countries, auditor data and much more.
IRIS Facts & Figures will be regularly updated to reflect the latest changes in numbers and will be made available to all IRIS registered companies and certification bodies allowing you to exclusively take advantage of the new publication.
