This International Standard provides a repository for key terminology relating to process assessment. It gives overall information on the concepts of process assessment, the application of process assessment for evaluating the achievement of process quality characteristics, and the application of the results of process assessment to the conduct of process management. This International Standard provides an introduction to the ISO/IEC 330xx family of standards for process assessment; it describes how the parts of the family of standards for process assessment fit together and provides guidance for their selection and use. It explains the requirements contained within the suite and their applicability to performing assessments.

Readers of this International Standard should familiarize themselves with the terminology and structure of the document suite and then reference the appropriate elements of the suite for the context in which they propose to conduct an assessment.