On July 28, 2023, the ISO TC 176 member bodies, which includes roughly 120 countries, voted to revise ISO 9001 to meet the standards of today’s highly crowded and competitive business world, bringing long overdue changes. According to ISO directives, a standard must undergo systematic review no more than five years after its release to guarantee it remains relevant to changing stakeholder expectations or technological developments. Systematic review doesn’t translate into automatic revision. After multiple deliberations, the decision was made to update ISO 9001, a two-year process during which the validity and soundness of the existing criteria will be carefully scrutinized.
The Current Version of The ISO 9001 Standard Was Published in September 2015
ISO 9001:2015 was made public in September 2015, canceling and replacing ISO 9001:2008. Some critical updates included new terminology to make the standard easier to understand, emphasized risk-based thinking concerned with identifying the effects of business uncertainty, and higher leadership requirements (leadership being mandatory, not optional), to name a few. There wasn’t any problemwith implementation since organizations already did most of what ISO 9001:2015 required. The 2015 version of the ISO 9001 standard remains current, and it’s never too late to pursue certification, so implement or improve your quality management system to include the requirements of ISO 9001:2015.
If all documentation is in order and the on-site visit goes well, you’ll receive the ISO 9001:2015 certification. Becoming ISO 9001 certified isn’t as complicated as it seems, but you must have discipline and patience to meet the standard’s requirements and build an organizational culture that automatically engages in self-evaluation, correction, and improvement of operations/processes. The implementation plan is the culmination of events that transfer the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 into quality management. In a space as vast and as wide as the Internet, there are numerous ISO 9001 online training courses to choose from, so know the ins and outs of everything to attain certification.
In February 2024, ISO Published an Amendment to All Major Standards Like 9001
Not that long ago, ISO published an amendment that requires companies to take into account climate change risks in their contextual analysis and, if deemed relevant, in the design and implementation of the management system. This new inclusion reflects a global recognition of the need for environmental sustainability to be a core business consideration. Changes in subclauses 4.1 and 4.2 warrant adjusting other parts of your management system, so you might need to consider new risks and opportunities, compliance obligations, requirements for internal/external commitments, and changes in resources and/or competence.
Published In 2025, The Revised ISO 9001 Will Affect Your Organization’s Internal Audits
The 2025 update seeks to improve the overall effectiveness of the ISO 9001 standard, with adjustments planned concerning resilience, supply chain management, change management, sustainability, risk management, and organizational knowledge as a strategic asset. The new version of ISO 9001 will most likely be published in late 2025 or early 2026, so stay informed of any developments and start preparing for the transition right now. If you have an existing certification under the 9001:2015 standard, ISO allows for a three-year transition period to comply with the new version, which means you have until 2028. You may need to work with your certification body to schedule an audit earlier than usual.
As indicated by quality professionals, the revised version of ISO 9001:2015, which should be published in December 2025, will include the following changes:
- Using emerging technologies like artificial intelligence for automated decision-making
- Incorporating ethics and integrity within leadership practices
- Emphasis on customer satisfaction as the key component of a positive experience
- A renewed focus on quality assurance
- Clear guidance for service providers and strengthening requirements
- Additional details/explanations about the role of QMS in improving business
The structure of the standard is to be retained, meaning ISO 9001:2025 will merely replace the High Level Structure (HLS) with the new Harmonized Structure (HS) for management systems, fostering an active consideration for climate science and associated transitions. The revision aims to leave well-established sections unchanged, so it won’t be a radical change.
There Are Steps You Can Take Before the Big Reveal to Smooth the Transition
The ISO 9001 standard, which goes far beyond operations to every aspect of the business, is undergoing a significant update to establish a solid yet pliable and well-respected foundation in any field, so continue to monitor performance to ensure the requirements are met. While the review details remain uncertain, the experts anticipate significant changes in critical areas for organizational success. Being prepared for the unexpected might seem like an unattainable goal, but you must equip yourself for change by:
- Conducting a gap analysis: The gap in the analysis refers to the space between where you are and where you want to be. Use the Plan-Do-Check-Act framework to pinpoint areas of improvement and enhance your QMS effectively.
- Ensuring all staff members are aware of upcoming changes: Keeping people engaged during the transition can be challenging if the team lacks clear direction, and emails, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings are no longer viable alternatives. Online courses are always accessible via a browser and an internet connection, reducing the chances of disengagement. Training is another critical element and must be well-documented to prove employees can generate meaningful connections to new information.
- Performing an audit Thereadiness assessment involves interviewing key personnel within your organization, i.e., the parties who affect or could affect your QMS, to identify gaps in compliance (internal and external issues) and obtain information about their needs and expectations.
- Investing in technology: Invest in solutions that help automate quality processes, including corrective and preventive actions, risk assessment, and non-conformance. Collaboration platforms with features like document sharing, task assignments, and discussion forums promote effective teamwork.
- Approaching changes in a planned and systematic way: Implications of change must be identified from the very get-go to start planning for implementation. Intelligence gathering allows you to guide cross-functional teams and stakeholders throughout the process.
Wrapping It Up
Anticipated for release by the end of 2025, the updated version of ISO 9001 will require companies to change how they approach quality management, and by staying informed, you can transform change into an advantage and charter new ways into the future.
Disclaimer: For more interesting articles visit Business Times.
