ISO 9001 Basics: Complete Beginner’s Guide to ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems — Requirements

ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) is an international standard that helps organizations ensure they meet customers and other stakeholder needs within statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or service. ISO 9001 is held by thousands of businesses in Australia, we’ve helped them get Certified with minimal disruption, reducing project costs and raising revenues.

In this guide to ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems (QMS) for beginners, you’ll learn:

·       What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

·       Reasons for use?

·       ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

·       ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices   

·       How to best Prepare for ISO 9001 : 2015 Certification

·       Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

·       How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

·       Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

What is ISO 9001 and why it is important?

Over one million organizations worldwide are independently certified to ISO 9001, making it one of the most widely used management tools globally.

Contents of ISO 9001:2015 are as follows:

·       Section 1: Scope

·       Section 2: Normative references

·       Section 3: Terms and definitions

·       Section 4: Context of the organization

·       Section 5: Leadership

·       Section 6: Planning

·       Section 7: Support

·       Section 8: Operation

·       Section 9: Performance evaluation

·       Section 10: Continual Improvement

Similar to its predecessor, ISO 9001:2008, the layout of the current version of the standard follows PDCA (plan–do–check–act or plan–do–check–adjust) principles. PDCA is an iterative four-step management method used in business for the control and continuous improvement of processes and products.

The ISO 9001:2015 management system standard helps ensure that consumers get reliable, desired quality goods and services. This further increases benefits for a business.

Over time, various industry sectors have wanted to standardise their interpretations of the guidelines within their own marketplace. This is partly to ensure that their versions of ISO 9000 have their specific requirements, but also to try and ensure that more appropriately trained and experienced auditors are sent to assess them. Some examples include:

·       The TickIT guidelines

·       AS9000 is the Aerospace Basic Quality System Standard

·       PS 9000, QS 9000, ISO/TS 16949 now referred to as IATF 16949:2016 are the various Automotive Quality Management Systems

·       TL 9000 is the Telecom Quality Management and Measurement System Standard

·       ISO 13485:2016 Medical devices

·       ISO/IEC 90003:2014 Software engineering

·       ISO/TS 29001 is quality management system requirements for the design, development, production, installation, and service of products for the petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas industries

·       ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Systems

·       ISO 17025:2017 is the Quality Management System applicable only to Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Reasons for use?

Proper quality management can improve business, often having a positive effect on investment, market share, sales growth, sales margins, competitive advantage, and avoidance of litigation.

We've got the answers - Call our ISO 9001 Certification helpline now

ISO 9001 QMS Policy Best Practices

The ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems standard requires the development a Quality Policy. A Quality Policy is a document developed by management to express the commitment of top management with respect to quality.

Section 5.2 of the ISO 9001:2015 standard requires a written, well-defined quality policy that is communicated and understood by all stakeholders and interested parties. Need help developing a Quality Policy for your business? Call ISOsafe 1300 789 132.

ISO 9001 Certification Best Practices

Before the certification body can issue or renew a certificate, the auditor must be satisfied that the company being assessed has implemented the requirements of sections 4 to 10. Sections 1 to 3 are not directly audited against, but because they provide context and definitions for the rest of the standard, not that of the organization, their contents must be taken into account.

Common Technical ISO 9001 QMS Issues

An organization applying for ISO 9001 certification is audited based on an extensive sample of its sites, functions, products, services, and processes. The auditor presents a list of problems (defined as "non-conformities", "observations", or "opportunities for improvement") to management. If there are no major non-conformities, the certification body issues a certificate. Where major non-conformities are identified, the organization presents an improvement plan to the certification body (e.g. corrective action reports showing how the problems will be resolved); once the certification body is satisfied that the organization has carried out sufficient corrective action, it issues a certificate. The certificate is limited by a certain scope (e.g., production of golf balls) and displays the addresses to which the certificate refers.

How to Track & Measure ISO 9001 QMS Performance Evaluation, Compliance Evaluations and Report Results at Management Review Meetings.

The organization should determine the methods and frequency for monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation of Performance Evaluation. Does this all sound like too much work? Call ISOsafe now to get help with your ISO 9001 accreditation.

Additional ISO 9001 Considerations (such as industry specific applications of the standard and ISO Best Practices)

So if you’ve gotten this far, you should know a lot of information about how ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems.

What should you do next? Call ISOsafe on 1300 789 132 to get started on your ISO 9001 Certification.

ISO 9001:2015 - How we can help you get there

ISO 9001 is the internationally recognised standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS). It is the most widely used standard in the world, with over 1.1 million certificates issued to organisations in 178 countries.

ISO 9001 provides a framework and set of principles that ensure a common-sense approach to the management of your organisation to consistently satisfy customers and other stakeholders. In simple terms, it provides the basis for effective processes and effective people to deliver an effective product or service time after time.

ISO 9001:2015 was released on 15th September 2015. Organisations currently registered to ISO 9001:2008 will have 3 years to make the transition to the 2015 version. In support of the transition process, we wanted to answer some of the more common questions that we have received.

 Why was ISO 9001 revised?

All ISO standards are revised every five years to keep them current and relevant to the marketplace.

When should my organisation start the transition process and how will ISOsafe assist me through the transition?

Immediately! The first step is to contact ISOsafe – we’ll work with you on the transition timeline. The next step is to sit back while our expert consultant prepares all the necessary documents and delivers the ISO training your staff require. We will run the ISO project, on your behalf, through to issue of certificates.

Can our organisation upgrade in 2016 during a re-certification or surveillance audit?

Yes, providing your quality management system meets the requirements of ISO 9001:2015. Organisations may transition during a surveillance, recertification or special audit.  Transition audits will take place in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

My organisation is thinking of getting certified to ISO 9001 in 2016, what version should we be using?

We suggest you consider ISO 9001:2015 but this is your decision and ISOsafe will support an initial certification to ISO 9001:2008.

If you are seeking ISO 9001 certification for the first time, you can expect the following benefits: operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, process improvement, product improvement, reduced wastage, enhanced risk management at all levels in your business and new business / contracts – as this globally recognised certification will give your business a competitive edge in the market.

How can I get a copy of the ISO 9001:2015 Standard?

ISOsafe recommend purchasing Standards from an Australian supplier, such as SAI Global.

What are notable changes when transitioning to ISO 9001:2015?

The new ISO 9001 standard aligns with high-level organizational structure, requiring all new ISO management system standards to be aligned on a high-level structure with a set of common requirements. Additionally, there is a greater emphasis on risk-based thinking as a basis for the management system, more focus on achieving value for the company and its customers, increased flexibility regarding use of documentation, and a more approachable structure for service businesses.

ISOsafe have helped many organisations seamlessly transition to the revised Standards. Don’t wait till its late call us today on 1300 789 132

Why quality management is essential for your small business

With ever-increasing demands for small and micro-businesses to deliver on quality, price and service, the most effective way to enhance the confidence of your customers is through a structured certificated Quality Management System (QMS). For small businesses, this is not as daunting as it might appear, as it should always be based on how your business systems currently operate.

You can manage quality, whatever the size of your business, with a standard that’s recognised the world over. With ISO 9001 Quality Management you can:

•   save money

•   increase profit

•   win more business

•   satisfy more customers

The ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard is the foundation for:

•   A real opportunity for increasing business, and thereby profitability, by being able to pursue contracts with those customers for whom certification is a contractual requirement.

•   Providing you with the opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of your business through the information that the QMS gives you. A QMS will facilitate customer focus, enhanced risk management, increasing efficiency, productivity, cost savings, and reducing and overcoming product or service problems.

•   Developing a system which provides the building blocks a small or micro business needs to progress in that it enhances the recognition of your team members through involving them in considerations, development and implementation. This in turn significantly improves communication and understanding together with a faster response in resolving any issues that arise. All of this is achieved through your confidence that the system provides reliable, recorded information and data to base potential improvements on.

Adopting a QMS should be seen as a business development opportunity, regardless of your business size