ISO 9001 Overview
Learn the quality management system fundamentals that this standard requires to help businesses improve their performance.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is one of the world’s most widely used standards that establishes the requirements for a quality management system that may help organizations to consistently delivers better value for their customers and interested parties. It outlines seven principles that drive performance improvements linked to satisfying customers’ requirements. These principles form a basis for you to monitor and manage quality across every aspect of your business.
ISO 9001 Revisions
The ISO 9001 standard undergoes regular revision to ensure that it remains relevant to the current marketplace. The latest version of ISO 9001 dates from 2015 and a 2023 update is underway and will likely be published in 2026; with a three-year transition period where both versions will remain in effect.
Benefits of ISO 9001
Organizations that implement ISO 9001 can strengthen their business processes, which helps drive greater efficiency, productivity and customer confidence. More than a million companies across the globe have implemented this standard looking to improve their business. By implementing ISO 9001, companies of all sizes can increase their competitiveness in a global marketplace.
- Increased Customer Trust and Satisfaction: With a robust quality management process in place, you can help ensure a higher level of achievement that demonstrates your ability to fulfill customer needs.
- Sound Quality Control Processes: ISO 9001 contains detailed explanations of how to set up a system to better implement reliable, consistent performance.
- Cost Savings and Productivity Gains: With ISO 9001 principles as a guide, you can identify opportunities to help streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies and reduce costs while improving output.
- Continuous Improvement: ISO 9001:2105 encourages regular audits and reviews so your organization can stay on track to achieve desired results.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Principles
Explore the seven pillars that make implementing a quality management system easier.
Customer Focus
Fulfilling and surpassing customer expectations is the cornerstone of quality management. With a commitment to adapting to their evolving needs, your business can demonstrate the resourcefulness needed to ensure long-term success.
Leadership
Clear and cohesive direction from a strong team of leaders can ensure everyone in the organization is aligned with the direction toward which you’re heading.
Engagement of People
With a skilled, empowered and fully engaged workforce, your business can create real customer value much more efficiently
Process Approach
Showing the interconnectedness of different activities within your organization can boost everyone’s awareness of how their work fits into the overall system of your business, leading to greater efficiency.
Improvement
A thriving organization continually seeks improvement, adjusting constantly to changes as it evolves to make sure it can continue to deliver value.
Evidence-Based Decision-Making
By basing decisions on thorough data analysis and systematic evaluation, organizations can mitigate uncertainty and increase the likelihood of achieving what they set out to accomplish.
Relationship Management
Businesses are built on the strength of relationships with many people, from suppliers to customers to influencers. Identifying and strategically managing key relationships with all stakeholders is critical for long-term success.
ISO 9001 Webinar
ISO 9001:2015 - Official Standard Requirements
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to comply with the latest Quality Management System standard requirements.
ABS QE Services
Certification Services
Achieving ISO 9001 Certification is a proven way to help your organization achieve a higher rate of corporate survival, sales, employment growth and wage increases.
Training Services
Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to perform internal audits of your organization’s quality management system based on the ISO 9001 requirements.
FAQs
Who should follow the ISO 9001 standard?
Any organization can benefit from adapting the ISO 9001 standard, no matter what sector you’re in or the what size your company.
Who should follow the ISO 9001 standard?
Where can I find information on how to adapt the requirements of ISO 9001 to my sector?
ISO has adapted ISO 9001 QMS to meet the needs of specific sectors and industries. See www.iso.org for standards addressing medical devices, government elections, the railway industry, petroleum industry, computer software sector and many more.
Where can I find information on how to adapt the requirements of ISO 9001 to my sector?
When will the next edition of ISO 9001 be published?
The next edition is slated for publication in 2026.
When will the next edition of ISO 9001 be published?
Where can I get help implementing ISO 9001?
There is an informal group of quality management system experts who have an ongoing discussion forum available to the public at ISO 9001 Auditing Practices Group. In addition, ABS QE has extensive experience combined with a robust portfolio of services to help guide organizations on their quality management system certification journey.
Where can I get help implementing ISO 9001?