Guidelines for the application of QMS in local governments — also available in Serbian

The state administration and local governments, as the bearers of the public sector, manage all activities of public importance, from energy, transport and sewerage, through public lighting, to protection and safety of citizens, so there are clear reasons why citizens have high expectations from their local governments. The Institute for Standardization of Serbia has just published a document in Serbian (bilingual edition) SRPS ISO 18091: 2022, Quality management systems — Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001 in local government (https://iss.rs/sr_Cyrl/project/show/iss:proj:100735), which provides guidelines that can help public administration and local government to improve their activities and coordinate them with local needs and expectations. 

The public sector, as the largest service provider in each country, offers a wide range of services that directly affect the quality of life of the population. The challenges are numerous, and among them are balancing the expectations of citizens with budget constraints, environmental impacts and demographic changes. In these dynamic conditions, local governments need to effectively manage available resources and processes and work together as a system. This is where the SRPS ISO 18091 comes into spotlight, since it is directed at the public sector and provides guidelines for the application of SRPS ISO 9001 in local government, taking into account the context in which it operates. The guidelines include the requirements of SRPS ISO 9001:2015 for quality management systems and a number of Annexes that help users get the most out of the standard, including a diagnostic methodology by which local authorities can assess the scope and maturity of their processes and services (Annexes A and B, SRPS ISO 18091:2022).