ISO 9001 – 2015 CERTIFICATION
ISO 9001 – 2015 Certification
ISO standards are reviewed every five years and revised if necessary. This ensures they remain helpful tools for the market. The challenges businesses and organizations face today differ significantly from those of a few decades ago. ISO 9001 has been updated to address these changes effectively.
Key Differences Between Old and New Standards
While the core topics remain the same, the updated ISO 9001:2015 introduces several essential differences:
Structure of the Standard
The updated structure reflects fundamental concepts common to all management systems, such as:
Management, client needs, policy, procedure, planning, performance, objectives, control, monitoring, measurement, auditing, decision-making, corrective action, and nonconformity.
- This standardized approach simplifies implementing multiple standards, as they share basic requirements.
- However, organizations may face short-term disruptions as they adapt to the new structure.
Documented Information
- The distinction between documents and records has been eliminated.
- Both are now referred to as “documented information.”
- This change aims to unify terminology but may initially seem awkward to some users.
Objects, Outputs, Products, and Services
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Definition of “Object”: Introduced to encompass anything conceivable or perceivable.
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This expands the standard’s theoretical scope to apply to all objects.
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Terminology Changes:
- The term “output” replaces the old “product” definition.
- Outputs now encompass both products and services.
- These shifts emphasize the process approach central to the updated standard.
Other Clarifications and Modifications
Several additional changes enhance the applicability and clarity of ISO 9001:2015:
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Service Recognition:
- Previously, a “service” was considered a type of product.
- Now, “products and services” are distinct, making the standard relevant to both manufacturers and service providers.
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Expanded Scope for External Providers:
- Customer property now includes external providers’ products, services, and processes.
- Organizations must control these if they contribute to final outputs or are delivered directly to clients.
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Shift in “Continual Improvement”:
- Previously focused on fulfilling needs, it now emphasizes enhancing performance.
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Knowledge Management:
- Organizations must identify, acquire, and share personnel knowledge to ensure operational success.
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Elimination of “Management Representative”:
- Responsibilities can now be distributed across one or multiple individuals.
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Risk-Based Thinking:
- Replaces preventive action, making the latter redundant.
- Encourages proactive approaches to potential issues.
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Monitoring and Measuring Resources:
- Expands beyond equipment to include broader resources.
Clause-by-Clause Comparison
ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 9001:2008 | Discussion |
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4. Context of the organization | 1.0 Scope | New requirement: Organizations must determine external/internal factors affecting operations. |
4.1 Understanding the organization context | 1.1 General | – |
4.2 Understanding needs of interested parties | 1.1 General | – |
Benefits of ISO 9001:2015 Certification
The updated standard offers several advantages:
- Effectively addresses supply chain management.
- Simplifies language, structure, and terms for organizations managing multiple systems.
- Increases focus on leadership engagement.
- Encourages structured risk and opportunity management.
- Improves usability for service-oriented and knowledge-based organizations.
Section Changes in ISO 9001:2015
Section Number | Previous Standard Sections | New Standard Sections |
---|---|---|
Section 1 | Scope | Scope |
Section 2 | Normative References | Normative References |
Section 3 | Terms and Definitions | Terms and Definitions |
Section 4 | General Requirements | Context of the Organization |
Section 5 | Management Responsibility | Leadership |
Section 6 | Resource Management | Planning |
This detailed breakdown highlights the improvements and refinements introduced by ISO 9001:2015, ensuring it remains a robust and user-friendly standard for modern businesses.