ISO 9001 Revision in 2015, Versus the Old Versions
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Introduction
The ISO 9001:2015 revision marks a significant update to the world’s most recognized quality management standard. This revision defines ways to achieve and benchmark consistent performance of products and services. It also aligns with other management system standards. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), this update replaces the 2008 revision after seven years, bringing new requirements and changes to the forefront.
The Evolution of ISO 9000 Standards
ISO 9000 was first published in 1987. It was based on the BS 5750 series of standards from BSI, proposed to ISO in 1979. However, its roots trace back even further.
Early Origins
In 1959, the United States Department of Defense released the MIL-Q-9858 standard. This standard was revised into the NATO AQAP series of standards in 1969.
Development Over the Years
The NATO AQAP series was revised into the BS 5179 series of guidance standards in 1974. By 1979, these were further revised into the BS 5750 series of requirements standards before being submitted to ISO.
Major Revisions
The first major revision of ISO 9000 occurred in 1994. This revision introduced ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003 as sub-standards. The year 2000 saw another significant update, defining the Quality Management System. In 2008, the third revision was published, and the latest revision was made in 2015, which is the current standard.
History of Quality Management System Standards
The infographic provides a timeline of the evolution of Quality Management System (QMS) standards:
- 1987: Introduction of ISO 9000 series.
- 1994: First major revision of ISO 9000 series.
- 2000: Introduction of ISO 9001:2000.
- 2008: Introduction of ISO 9001:2008.
- September 2015: Introduction of ISO 9001:2015.
ISO 9001:2015 Amendment on Climate Action
The 2024 amendment to ISO 9001:2015 integrates climate change considerations into organizational management systems. Organizations are now required to assess the relevance of climate change within their context as the need of interested party and as one external issue. Moreover they need to consider it when evaluating risks and opportunities.
Alignment with Other Standards
ISO 9001:2015 is compliant with other standards such as ISO 27001, ISO 14001, ISO 22301, and ISO 20000. This ensures a cohesive approach to quality management across different domains.
Transition Period
- Old 2008 Revision: Companies certified against the 2008 revision must transition by September 2018. Leading certification bodies will no longer issue certifications against the 2008 revision starting in September 2015.
- New 2015 Revision: Companies can certify against the 2015 revision starting in September 2015.
- Now in 2024 old standard is no longer valid for certification purpose.
Comparison of Old and New Revisions
Step
|
Actions
|
---|---|
Training and Development
|
Regular sessions, skill enhancement, continuous learning
|
Clear Communication
|
Open channels, regular updates, feedback mechanisms
|
Empowerment
|
Authority, autonomy, trust
|
Recognition and Rewards
|
Acknowledgement, reward systems, motivation
|
Participation in Decision-Making
|
Inclusive goal setting, collaborative decisions, ownership
|
Performance Metrics
|
Clear metrics, regular feedback, performance reviews
|
Career Growth Opportunities
|
Advancement opportunities, skill development, career pathing
|
New Requirements
New requirements in ISO 9001:2015 revision:
- Context of the organization (Clause 4)
- Actions to address risks and opportunities (Clause 6.1)
Requirements from ISO 9001:2008 revision that are gone:
- Quality Manual
- Management representative
- Preventive action
Similarities and Differences
Most Important Areas:
- High Degree of Change: Risks and opportunities, context of the organization, interested parties.
- Medium Degree of Change: Context of externally provided processes, products, and services; quality objectives and plans for achieving them; design and development; documentation requirements; performance evaluation; production and service provision.
- Small Degree of Change: Quality policy, leadership, competence, training and awareness, management review, internal audit, corrective action.
Conclusion
The 2015 revision brings several enhancements to the QMS:
- Better integration with other business activities.
- Enhancement of the process approach and PDCA cycle.
- Decentralization of the system and distribution of responsibilities for the QMS throughout the organization.
- Greater involvement of top management in the QMS.
- Introduction of risk-based thinking in the QMS.
- Higher emphasis on performance monitoring.
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This blog provides a comprehensive overview of the significant changes brought by the ISO 9001:2015 revision. By understanding these updates, organizations can better align their practices with the new standards, ensuring continued compliance and improvement in their quality management systems. This proactive approach will help organizations stay competitive and deliver consistent quality in their products and services.