- ISO 9001, which represents an international consensus on good management practises, is a powerful tool that can be used by any organisation, regardless of the size or type of business, in developing a sound and solid management system.
- ISO 9001 provides a tried and tested framework for taking a systematic approach to managing your business processes (your organisation’s activities) so that they consistently turn out product conforming to the customer’s expectations and requirements. In addition, that means consistently happy customers!
- While ISO 9001 is not a legal requirement for access to foreign markets, many international businesses perceive the ISO 9001 standards as a key to doing business in global markets and to improving competitiveness
- More and more customers are also using the standards as a way to differentiate companies they are doing business with, particularly when products and services are similar.
- Finally, quality management system developed using ISO 9001 is an excellent foundation for continuous improvement
- The Quality Management System standard ISO 9001 is being revised and will become ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001:2015 adopt the high level structure framework. Annex SL provides the framework for management system standards.
What’s New in ISO 9001:2015
- Risk management is being added with focus on risk-based thinking. Identification of risk and risk control now a requirement.
- Standardized core text, structure, definitions enable organizations with multiple management systems to achieve improved integration & implementation.
- Major focus on achieving value for organization and its customers & interested parties.
- Revisions allow ISO 9001 to be more applicable by “service-based” organizations.
- Primary focus remains on Customers aogn with interested parties
ISO 9001:2015 adopts the high level Annex SL structure that contains the following clauses:
- Scope
- Normative references
- Terms and definitions
- Context of the organization
- Leadership
- Planning
- Support
- Operation
- Performance evaluation
- Improvement