The ISO 9001:2015 standard sets the requirements of a quality management system. It is intended to help organisations achieve excellence through a stronger focus on customers, people and leadership to ensure the business’s improvement.
It enables organisations to enhance their existing quality management program by defining and documenting processes, training employees, ensuring better supply chain relationship management, adopting a risk-based approach to quality, and involving the leadership team in quality management more often.
Organisations implement ISO 9001:2015 standards to achieve improved efficiency and effectiveness of company operations and identify the most effective way to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to safety, reliability and quality.
The Seven Principles of ISO 9001
ISO 9001 is based on seven quality management principles to ensure the Quality Management System (QMS) is properly implemented.
1. Customer Focus
Customer focus where a focus is ensuring that customer requirements and needs are met and exceeded.
2. Leadership
Leadership focus where the emphasis is on strong leadership and management commitment so that everyone understands what the organisation aims to achieve.
3. Engagement of People
Involvement of people throughout the organisation through continuous empowerment. This improves performance and competency, which creates value for the business because it ensures that the organisation has competent people.
4. Process Approach
The process approach looks into understanding activities as processes that link together and function as a system to achieve more consistent and predictable results.
5. Improvement
Improvement where the focus is given on activities that ensure the organisation processes are improved continuously. This may include internal audits, corrective actions and system reviews.
6. Evidence-based Decision Making
Evidence-based decision-making that is based on objective data evaluation to achieve the desired result.
7. Relationship Management
Relationship management with relevant stakeholders. Identifying important relationships with interested parties such as suppliers and setting out a plan to manage them ensures sustained success.
All the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 are generic and are intended to apply to any organisation, regardless of its type or size, or the products and services it provides.
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Key facts
- ISO 9001:2015 sets the requirements of a quality management system, intended to help organisations achieve excellence through a focus on customers, people, and leadership.
- All ISO 9001:2015 requirements are generic and apply to any organisation, regardless of its type, size, or the products and services it provides.
- The standard is built on seven quality management principles: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management.
- Benefits include enhanced quality management, process definition and documentation, better employee training, stronger supply chain relationships, a risk-based approach, and improved operational efficiency.
- Implementing ISO 9001 demonstrates an organisation's commitment to safety, reliability, and quality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ISO 9001:2015 standard?
ISO 9001:2015 is the standard that sets the requirements of a quality management system. It is intended to help organisations achieve excellence by focusing on customers, people, and leadership.
What are the seven principles of ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is based on seven quality management principles: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management. Together these principles guide organisations toward consistent quality and continual improvement.
Which organisations can apply ISO 9001?
Any organisation can apply ISO 9001. All the requirements of ISO 9001:2015 are generic and are intended to apply to any organisation, regardless of its type or size, or the products and services it provides.
What are the benefits of implementing ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 delivers enhanced quality management programs, clearer process definition and documentation, improved employee training, and better supply chain relationship management. It also supports a risk-based approach, improves operational efficiency and effectiveness, and demonstrates an organisation's commitment to safety, reliability, and quality.
How does ISO 9001 help improve business quality?
ISO 9001 improves quality by helping organisations define and document their processes, adopt a risk-based approach, and pursue continuous improvement. Its emphasis on customer focus, strong leadership, and evidence-based decision making drives greater operational efficiency and effectiveness.