ISO 9001:2015 is a latest internationally recognized standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It provides a framework and principles for your company to ensure that the common sense approach to running your business in a consistent manner to achieve customer satisfaction. ISO 9001 is suitable for any organization that wants to improve its operation and is managed, regardless of size or sector. However, the best returns come from companies who are ready to take it throughout the organization rather than individual sites, departments or regions.

Each revision of the ISO 9001 standard may introduce new or changed requirements and/or a different structure of the standard; in some cases, only the wording is changed for the sake of clarity. Previous versions of the ISO 9001 standard are: ISO 9001:1994 (along with ISO 9002 and ISO 9003), ISO 9001:2000, and ISO 9001:2008. The 1994, 2000 and 2008 versions are obsolete and certifications are no longer valid (all ISO 9001:2008 certifications expired in September 2018).

Transition Period

ISO 9001:2015 is the newest revision of the ISO 9001 standard. ISO 9001:2008, the previous revision, remained valid and applicable along with ISO 9001:2015 during a 3-year transition period. With the publication of ISO 9001:2015 on September 23, 2015, the 3-year transition period started. During those three years, both revisions of ISO 9001 remained valid in order to give companies sufficient time to upgrade their certification. By September 2018, all ISO 9001:2008 certifications should have transitioned to ISO 9001:2015. Companies that missed the transition deadline lost their ISO 9001 certification.

WHAT IS AN ISO 9001:2015 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?

Supporting an organization’s aims and objectives, an ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) documents the processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. Based on seven quality management principles, the ISO 9001:2015 certification defines the way an organization operates to meet the requirements of its customers and stakeholders:

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Engagement of people
• Process approach
• Improvement
• Evidence-based decision-making
• Relationship management

New Wording

In order to facilitate better integration with other ISO standards, the new high-level framework also incorporates a change of wording. The new wording includes:

The term “products” has been replaced by “products and services” to make it clearer and easier for service providers

The terms “documentation”, “documented procedures”, “records”, and “quality manual” have all been replaced by the term “documented information”

The term “work environment” has been replaced by the term “environment for the operation of processes”

The term “monitoring and measuring equipment” is now referred to as “monitoring and measuring resources”

The term “purchased product” has been replaced by the term “externally provided products and services” partially in order to make it clearer that services need to be considered as well

The term “supplier” is now called “external provider”

While people may argue if the new wording improves understanding or not, the good news is that you don’t have to use the same wording. As with the structure, the change in wording was done in order to create a common framework for all ISO management standards.

Benefits of ISO 9001:2015:

• Become more cost-efficient.
• Increased credibility and competitiveness.
• Lower costs and shorter cycle times through effective use of resources.
• Enhanced customer satisfaction and improved customer loyalty leading to repeat business.
• Increased revenue and market share obtained through flexible and fast responses to market opportunities.
• Integration and alignment of internal processes which will lead to increased productivity and results.
• Consistency in the delivery of your product or service.
• Improved communication, planning and administration processes.