Forthcoming ISO 9001:2015 QMS - What Should We Do Now?

Forthcoming ISO 9001:2015 QMS - What Should We Do Now?

Keshav Ram Singhal

We know that ISO 9001:2008 QMS standard is undergoing revision process. ISO 9001 revision is currently at the Final Draft International Stage (FDIS), the fifth stage of the six stage process of ISO 9001 revision. The forthcoming standard is likely to be published in the last quarter of 2015, however many people may ask you -"What should we do now?"

People, particularly involved in quality management system implementation, should be careful of the changes in the QMS standard. There have been lot of discussions over the forthcoming changes that are available on internet. Many articles have been published on internet. People can carefully watch and read such discussions and articles. A number of websites/blogs are providing information on forthcoming standard. In this connection, website of 'International Organization for Standardization', who are the developer of the standard, is the prime source providing authentic information on forthcoming standard. Information on 'ISO 9001 Quality Management System's Revision' can be seen at http://www.iso.org/iso/iso9001_revision. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a news-article 'ISO 9001 revision moves on to final stage' by Maria Lazarte on its website at http://www.iso.org/iso/home/news_index/news_archive/news.htm?refid=Ref1905, which provides current status of the revision process.

The author of this article is involved in creating awareness on quality management system and his blogs 'Quality Concepts and ISO 9001:2008 QMS Awareness' and 'Forthcoming ISO 9001:2015 QMS Awareness' can be useful sources of information providing academic interest articles. These blogs are being visited and appreciated by people world over.

There is enough time for the publication of forthcoming standard. Denise E. Robitaille (a member of the U.S.TAG to ISO/TC 176, the committee responsible for updating the ISO 9000 family of standards) says, "The standard is still on track to be issued before the end of 2015. In the meantime, it's a bad idea to jump the gun and start making changes in anticipation of the standard - that is, in most instances. Organizations should be wary of the changes in the standard that suggest that requirements, for example, for the quality manual and documented procedures are going away. That may indeed be the case, but any action on this and several other changes would be premature and might end up causing additional work and unnecessary confusion." (Source - http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-article/iso-9001-2015-things-you-can-do-now.html)

Therefore, it is suggested not to make any changes in your QMS documentation on the basis of forthcoming revision. However, you should be ready to prepare yourself to carry out revision in your quality management system:
- Think and understand issues related to the context of the organization
- Think and understand issues related to the introduction of risk-based thinking
- Think how you can incorporate addition of requirements relating to responsibility, taking action, monitoring, and revising quality objectives
- Read relevant articles, visit relevant websites/blogs
- Undertake relevant training
- Understand the transition period for implementing the new standard.

At this moment, when there is enough time in publication of ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard, any changes to the quality management system on the basis of ISO/DIS 9001 or ISO/FDIS 9001 is not suggested and it is better to wait till ISO 9001:2015 QMS standard is published.