ISO 10012-2003 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 10012:2003 — Measurement management systems — Requirements for measurement processes and measuring equipment. This International Standard specified generic requirements and provided guidance for management of measurement processes and for metrological confirmation of measuring equipment used to support and demonstrate compliance with metrological requirements; it has been withdrawn and a new edition (ISO 10012:2026) has been published.

Abstract

ISO 10012:2003 set out quality-management-type requirements for a measurement management system that an organization performing measurements can use as part of its overall management system. It addressed control of measurement processes, metrological confirmation (calibration and verification) of measuring equipment, records and traceability, and noted that it is not intended to replace or add to requirements in ISO/IEC 17025 or to be a requisite for ISO 9001/ISO 14001. (The 2003 edition has been withdrawn and superseded by ISO 10012:2026.)

General information

• Status: Withdrawn (replaced by ISO 10012:2026).
• Publication date: April 2003 (2003-04). Withdrawal recorded 12 February 2026.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 17.020 (Quality management and quality assurance); 03.100.70 (Metrology).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 — ISO 10012:2003 (superseded); new edition ISO 10012:2026 (Edition 2).
• Number of pages: 19 pages (2003 edition).

Scope

ISO 10012:2003 applied to organizations that perform measurements as part of their management system and needed to ensure metrological requirements were met. It addressed management of measurement processes and metrological confirmation of measuring equipment used to support and demonstrate compliance with metrological requirements. It explicitly stated it was not intended to substitute for the competence requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, and it was not itself a mandatory route to demonstrate conformity with ISO 9001/14001. (See note about the 2026 edition for the current scope wording.)

Key topics and requirements

• Management responsibility for measurement quality and for establishing/maintaining a measurement management system.
• Resource management (personnel competence, equipment, environment).
• Metrological confirmation of measuring equipment (calibration, verification, adjustment, and traceability to national/international standards).
• Control and validation of measurement processes, including planning of measurements and control of methods.
• Measurement uncertainty considerations and ensuring confidence in measurement results.
• Measurement records, documentation, traceability, and retention of evidence.
• Monitoring, internal audit and continual improvement of the measurement management system.

Typical use and users

Organizations that perform product or process measurements (manufacturers, engineering service providers, suppliers) and that need to manage the quality of their measurement activities; quality and metrology managers; internal calibration/maintenance teams; purchasers and users of measuring equipment. Note: calibration and testing laboratories assessing competence and providing calibration services normally follow ISO/IEC 17025 rather than ISO 10012.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories), ISO 9001 (quality management systems), ISO 14001 (environmental management), earlier parts ISO 10012‑1:1992 and ISO 10012‑2:1997 (withdrawn), and the newly published ISO 10012:2026 which revises and replaces the 2003 edition.

Keywords

measurement management, metrological confirmation, measuring equipment, calibration, traceability, measurement uncertainty, measurement processes, measurement records, metrology, quality management.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 10012:2003 was an International Standard that specified requirements and guidance for a measurement management system addressing measurement processes and metrological confirmation of measuring equipment. It has been withdrawn and replaced by ISO 10012:2026.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covered management responsibility, resource management, control and validation of measurement processes, metrological confirmation (calibration/verification) and traceability, measurement uncertainty, documentation and records, and continual improvement of measurement activities.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Organizations performing measurements as part of their product or service delivery (manufacturers, engineering firms, suppliers), metrology and quality managers, and teams responsible for calibration and equipment control. Laboratories providing formal calibration/testing normally follow ISO/IEC 17025.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 10012:2003 has been withdrawn (withdrawal recorded 12 February 2026) and superseded by ISO 10012:2026 (published February 2026). For current requirements and the official PDF/ePub, refer to the ISO 10012:2026 publication.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: The 2003 edition consolidated earlier parts (ISO 10012‑1 and ISO 10012‑2, both withdrawn). The subject of measurement management sits alongside related ISO management and laboratory competence standards (for example ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025). The 2026 edition continues the ISO 10012 series as the current standard.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Measurement management, metrological confirmation, calibration, traceability, measurement uncertainty, measuring equipment, measurement processes, quality management.