In September the 2015 edition of ISO 9001 will be published – the first major revision of the standard since 2000, says British Standards. A final draft of the standard has now been released which incorporates changes made after feedback from users around the world. Terms crucial to understanding ISO 9001 are defined in ISO 9000, which has also been revised, and will publish at the same time.
Since 2000 the way we do business has changed enormously, says the standards body. We all have instant access to information and higher expectations of organizations we work with, whilst having to deal with more complex supply chains and a globally competitive economy. ISO 9001:2015 has been revised to take this into account.
Changes include:
Greater emphasis on building a management system suited to each organization’s particular needs
A requirement that those at the top of an organization be involved and accountable, aligning quality with wider business strategy
Risk-based thinking throughout the standard makes the whole management system a preventive tool and encourages continuous improvement
Less prescriptive requirements for documentation: the organization can now decide what documented information it needs and what format it should be in
Alignment with other key management system standards through the use of a common structure and core text
ISO 9000, which is also being revised and will publish at the same time, outlines the terms and definitions crucial to understanding ISO 9001.
Advanced Access gives organizations a chance to see the final draft in July and automatic delivery of the final standard as soon as it is available. There will be no technical changes to the standard after July, so organizations which take advantage of Advanced Access will get a preview of the technical content.
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “ISO 9001 is the world’s most used management system standard and as such all eyes are on this revision. The impact it has had in shaping how organizations manage the issue of quality correctly, is huge. No organization can afford to let their standards slip and the new ISO 9001 encompasses the changing needs of businesses. Existing certification customers have three years from the date the new edition publishes, to transition from the 2008 edition and we want to help make that move as smooth as possible. That is why it was crucial to offer Advanced Access, enabling users to get a head start.”
For the latest updates on revisions visit: http://www.bsigroup.co.uk/en-GB/iso-9001-quality-management/ISO-9001-Revision/.
