The latest version of the ISO 9001 standard is ISO 9001:2015, which was published in September 2015.
Although it retains some features of the earlier version, others have been removed or modified. New details have also been added to reflect the needs of the changing times.
In this post:
A brief overview of ISO 9001
The ISO 9001 standard is the most popular and widely recognised ISO standard governing quality management systems. It applies to all types of private and public organisations that want to demonstrate high standards and be recognised internationally.
Being ISO 9001-certified allows an organisation to show that its products or services comply with internationally-accepted standards, which translates into a good reputation and global credibility.
Adhering to ISO 9001 standards can also help an organisation to meet the needs and expectations of its customers or clients, as well as other stakeholders such as investors.
ISO 9001:2015 explained
The latest version of the ISO 9001 standard – ISO 9001:2015 – is similar to its predecessor in that it’s designed to be generic.
The requirements are meant to apply to all organisations, irrespective of how small or large they are, the products they make and the services they provide. As ISO 9001:2015 aims to ensure consistency of quality products and services, organisations that adhere to the standard often find they enhance customer satisfaction in the process.
Some of the major updates in the latest version include the following:
- New terminologies and definitions
- Some information and standards have been restructured
- The application of the process approach is enhanced by emphasising risk-based thinking
- Improvements to the applications for organisations that offer services
- More attention is given to the additional requirements of the leadership role.
What are older versions of ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 was originally developed and published by a technical committee in 1987, although the actual idea and preliminary work started in 1980.
After the original, several revisions were made in 1994, 2000, and 2008 before the current version was finalised and published in 2015.
ISO 9001 changes from 2008 to 2015
Some of the major changes made in the 2015 standard compared to the 2008 version include the addition of new terminologies, the restructuring of information, and the emphasis on the leadership role.
What are the provisions of ISO 9001:2015?
ISO 9001:2015 has many provisions on specific and technical topics that would be difficult to enumerate here.
We will therefore focus on a few of the most pertinent ones. Here are some of the important provisions or topics covered in the new version:
- Specifications of the requirements for quality management systems. These include documented information that can be easily cross-referenced and planned
- The various responsibilities and obligations of the management team
- How the resources should be managed, including human resources
- Details of the product realisation, which include the product design and delivery
- Internal audit standards that measure and analyse the system to further improve it and make it more efficient.
When is the next update of ISO 9001?
There are many factors to consider when updating the ISO 9001 standard, and previous revisions have been somewhat irregular. Currently, there is no exact date yet for the next update.
In 2021, it was decided that no change will be implemented for the next five years. It was also agreed that an additional three years will be allowed for the development of the new document. This means the earliest date for a new version will probably be sometime in 2029.
ReAgent’s ISO certifications
ReAgent currently holds four ISO accreditations: ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, the ISO 14001 environmental certification, ISO 13485 for quality management systems relating to medical devices, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety.
If you’d like any further information about our ISO certifications, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to assist you.
