Oxebridge has long positioned itself as a watchdog of the ISO certification industry, calling out what it sees as corruption, cartel behavior, and consultant manipulation. But with the release of its own standard—Oxebridge Q001—the watchdog appears to have traded its bark for a brand.
Let’s unpack the contradictions.
🧨 1. Critique ISO, Then Copy It
Oxebridge claims Q001 “clarifies” ISO 9001 and removes redundancies. But it also admits that Q001 requires “a few additional sentences” to meet full ISO 9001 compliance. That’s not independence—it’s dependency.
If ISO is broken, why does Q001 rely on ISO 9001 crosswalks to validate itself?
🧠2. Condemn Consultants, Then Author Solo
Oxebridge routinely attacks consultants for influencing ISO standards. Yet Q001 is written, trademarked, and distributed by a single consultancy—Oxebridge Quality Resources International LLC. There’s no evidence of multi-stakeholder input, no national mirror committee review, and no international consensus.
ISO standards are built by hundreds of experts across nations. Q001? One voice, one agenda.
đź’° 3. Free Standard, Trademarked Control
Oxebridge touts Q001 as “free forever,” but it’s also a registered trademark. It plans to oversee certification bodies, maintain a blockchain registry, and control accreditation. That’s not open-source reform—it’s centralized branding.
ISO standards are copyrighted but governed by national bodies. Q001 is copyrighted and governed by one consultancy.
⚖️ 4. Reform or Replacement?
Oxebridge’s messaging suggests Q001 is a “better” alternative to ISO 9001. But if the goal is reform, why create a competing standard instead of engaging with ISO’s public comment process, mirror committees, or TC 176?
Real reform happens through collaboration—not unilateral publication.
đź“Ł Final Thought
Oxebridge’s Q001 isn’t just a standard—it’s a strategy. By tearing down ISO’s credibility, it builds its own. But reforming global standards requires transparency, consensus, and stakeholder diversity—not solo crusades and selective outrage.