What’s New in IRIS Rev. 4?

IRIS Certification® continues to evolve—and with it, the quality management requirements in the rail industry. New areas, performance assessments, and specific criteria for SMEs—here’s what companies in the rail industry need to know.

ISO 22163 Is Being Further Developed

The next generation of the standard, ISO/AWI 22163, Edition 2, is already under development. It is intended to replace ISO 22163:2023 and is also expected to incorporate the requirements of the new ISO 9001:2026 (see ISO 9001).

The revision is currently still in an early stage of development. Therefore, there is no need for action at this time. The development process can also be tracked on the ISO website.

IRIS Rev. 4: More Than Just Traditional Vehicle Manufacturing

Did you know that IRIS Rev. 4 can also be applied beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing?

In addition to the established areas of

• Design
• Production
• Maintenance
  IRIS Rev. 4 now also allows companies or business units in the areas of
• Distribution
• Testing & Tools
• Turnkey Solutions
  to be certified.

As a result, IRIS Certification® addresses a significantly larger portion of the railway supply chain.

IRIS Is More Than “ISO 9001 with More Bureaucracy”

ISO 9001 defines fundamental requirements for an effective quality management system and can be applied across industries. IRIS Certification®, on the other hand, is based on ISO 22163 and specifically addresses the unique characteristics of the rail industry.

Key areas of focus include:

• the systematic management of customer and product requirements
• project and risk management
• supplier management
• the evaluation of process and organizational performance

A key difference from traditional ISO 9001 certification: The IRIS audit result does not merely indicate whether the requirements are met. It also provides insight into the organization’s maturity and performance—for example, regarding the implementation of key processes, rail-specific requirements, and customer perception, such as satisfaction, complaints, and on-time delivery.

Based on performance, a Quality Performance Level (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) is awarded in addition to the IRIS certificate and is adjusted annually.

This not only creates a better foundation for the targeted development of the organization but also demonstrates its performance capabilities to the outside world.

Also Suitable for SMEs

IRIS Rev. 4 is by no means relevant only to large companies. Specific criteria have been defined for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which affect, among other things, the duration of the audit and the scope of the requirements.

For companies with up to 85 employees and a maximum annual revenue of 25 million euros, there are the Micro, Small, and Medium categories. This allows the audit burden to be reduced while the company simultaneously addresses the relevant requirements of the rail industry in a structured manner.