The ISO 9001 system was first published more than 30 years ago, and more than one million organisations have now achieved certification in accordance with its requirements. This makes it one of the most widely recognised certifications in the world. It is used in virtually every industry—from large, multinational organisations operating across multiple locations to small, independent regional businesses. Why is quality management important? Organisations that implement an effective quality management system benefit from increased stakeholder and customer confidence, improved risk management, and greater operational effectiveness and efficiency. Effective implementation of ISO 9001 within a company
ensures that a company’s products or services meet a specified standard. This means that they are reliable, safe and consistent, meet customer expectations, are continually improved and comply with applicable law. The benefits of ISO 9001 quality management certification include: demonstrating quality through a widely recognised certification mark; improving efficiency and reducing costs; enhancing customer experience and management; implementing an effective risk management strategy; gaining a competitive advantage and expanding access to contracts and tenders, particularly government contracts; increasing the involvement of management and personnel; establishing documented processes; and applying management best practices and strategies. The following is currently available:
The requirements of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System have been significantly updated to reflect current market best practices. What has changed? ISO 9001:2015 differs significantly from the 2008 edition. The key changes include: a greater emphasis on risk management and customer satisfaction; a new structure that facilitates alignment with other management system standards; a greater emphasis on leadership and engagement; fewer prescriptive requirements; more requirements concerning communication and strategic alignment; and the formal introduction of the concept of “interested parties”. Find out more about the changes.
