Industry News

The first major revision of the world’s most used management standard, ISO 9001, is due for publication in September – incorporating changes made following user and expert feedback. A revised version of ISO 9000 will be published at the same time.

ISO says the new version of ISO 9001 will follow a new, higher level structure to make it easier to use in conjunction with other management system standards, with increased importance given to risk.

UK standards organisation BSI summaries some of the key changes in ISO 9001 as:

• Greater emphasis on building a management system suited to each organisation’s particular needs.
• A requirement that those at the top of an organisation be involved and accountable, aligning quality with wider business strategy.
• Risk-based thinking throughout the standard makes the whole management system a preventive tool to encourage continuous improvement.
• Less prescriptive requirements for documentation: The organisation 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 be published at the same time, outlines the terms and definitions crucial to understanding ISO 9001. Existing certification holders have a three year transition period after the revision has been published to migrate their quality management system.