New version of the DIN EN ISO 9001 quality management standard promises practical relevance and compatibility
ISO standards are reviewed every five years by the standards committee responsible for their relevance, suitability and effectiveness. At the recent review, a majority of the ISO committee decided that ISO 9001, the current standard for quality management, needed revising. The new version is now published and replaces the 2008 version. The associated changes and impacts will make the ISO 9001 quality management system relevant for companies all around the world regardless of their size or industry. We have gathered together the most important information on the new version of the quality management standard ISO 9001.
Here are some common questions you may have on the new version of ISO 9001.
What substantive changes will the revision to ISO 9001 entail?
The substantive changes concern, among other things, the topics of risk management, change management, and internal communication. With these add-ons, the new version of ISO 9001:2015 is better suited to the dynamic and complex market conditions under which many companies operate today. Companies that are certified under the current version of ISO 9001:2008 should study the revision to be able to set their course for recertification under ISO 9001:2015.
How will the transition period proceed?
For certificates and audits subject to accreditation, the following transition arrangements apply:
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A three-year transition period is granted from the publication of ISO 9001:2015. After those three years, all accredited certificates will be invalid.
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Certificates may be issued only after an audit and after the accreditation of the certification body.
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For audits held in conjunction with supervision or re-certification, it is expected that more time will be needed.
How can my currently certified company best prepare for the ISO 9001 revision?
Companies wishing to prepare for the new version of ISO 9001 can:
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Identify gaps for the new standard. Use the standard as the basis of a checklist and check what needs to be done to meet that standard.
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Develop an implementation plan.
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Ensure adequate training and awareness among all parties that influence how your company performs.
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Inform in good time all the participants in the quality management process of the ISO 9001 revision and the changes and impacts arising from it.
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Update your current quality management system to meet the additional or modified requirements and to ensure that the performance of the system is verified.