What is ISO 9001? 2015 Revision Overview & Certification Benefits
ISO 9001:2015 certification is an integral part of an organization’s efforts towards the broader aim of sustainable development. The adoption of a quality management system is a strategic decision for an organization to continuously improve their overall performance.
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
Is the ISO 9001 standard for me?
ISO 9001:2015 can be applied to any organization, whatever its type, size or sector.
What are the benefits of ISO 9001:2015 certification?
ISO 9001 certification will help your organization to develop and improve performance, as well as demonstrate high levels of service quality when bidding for contracts.
Implementing a QMS benefits an organization by effectively identifying customers and stakeholders (those who are affected by your activity, but not necessarily customers). This outward looking approach enables an organization to better meet the needs of these two groups, to improve processes, policies and the allocation of responsibilities to improve customer satisfaction.
What is the difference between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2008?
- Identify both external and internal issues. The new ISO 9001 standard now requires organizations to identify all issues both within and outside the organization that are relevant to its context and that can help to achieve the intended outcomes of its management system
- Greater emphasis on leadership than management. ISO 9001:2015 certification requires management to have direct involvement and ownership of the process and to ensure that the QMS is achieving its intended results and drive continual improvement within the organization
- Focus on organizational planning. This is a new requirement which obliges organizations to identify those risks and opportunities that have the potential to impact (negatively or positively) on the operation and performance of their QMS
- Evaluation of resources. Organizations need to take into account both internal and external resource requirements and capabilities to implement, maintain and improve its QMS
- Open-communication with customers. There is now a requirement that these processes must include, where relevant, communicating with customers in relation to the handling or treatment of customer property and specific requirements for contingency actions
- Identifies the ‘what’ ‘how’ and ‘when’ of the monitoring and measurement. ISO 9001:2015 certification now requires organizations to monitor information relating to the degree to which their needs and expectations have been fulfilled
- Improvement. An additional requirement for organizations to address is the ‘consequences’ of nonconformities, which is recognition that not all of its processes and/or activities will represent the same level of risk in terms of the organization’s ability to meet its objectives
Implementing an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system will enable your organization to:
- Operate more efficiently
- Meet statutory and regulatory requirements
- Reach new markets
- Identify and address risks
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