Quality standard revised15 September 2015
ISO 9001, the widely-adopted quality management systems standard has undergone its first major revision since 2000 to incorporate changes made following feedback from users and experts around the world.
According to the BSI Group: “Since 2000, the way we do business has changed enormously. We have instant access to information and higher expectations of organizations we work with, whilst having to deal with more complex supply chains and a globally competitive economy. ISO 9001:2015 has been revised to take this into account.”
Key changes include:
- Greater emphasis on building a management system suited to each organization’s particular needs
- A requirement that those at the top of an organization be involved and accountable, aligning quality with wider business strategy
- Risk-based thinking throughout the standard makes the whole management system a preventive tool and encourages continuous improvement
- Less prescriptive requirements for documentation: the organization can now decide what documented information it needs and what format it should be in
- Alignment with other key management system standards through the use of a common structure and core text
Anne Hayes, head of market development for governance and resilience at BSI, said: “The importance of achieving, maintaining and improving quality within organizations, cannot be emphasized enough. As supply chains become more complex and productivity levels increase, so does the need to ensure all contributing elements are operating to the highest standard. ISO 9001 is the world’s most used management system standard for good reason. It ensures businesses are not just doing ‘enough’, but taking additional steps to further reach their potential. The aim is to become more efficient, reliable and to enhance reputation and trust.”
Terms crucial to understanding ISO 9001 are defined in ISO 9000, which has also been revised, with both standards publishing on 23 September.
You can pre-order ISO 9001 here.
Ian Vallely
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BSI Group
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