Upcoming Revision of the ISO 9001 QMS Standard
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The upcoming revision of the ISO 9001 QMS standard
is expected to emphasize digital transformation. It aims to integrate
technology and data analysis into quality management systems while
strengthening sustainability, risk-based thinking, stakeholder engagement, and
supply chain management.
Key anticipated changes in ISO 9001 QMS may include the
following:
(1) Digitalization and Industry 4.0:
Increased focus on leveraging digital tools,
automation, data analysis, and information security to enhance quality
management.
(2) Sustainability and Environmental
Responsibility:
Integrating environmental considerations into
quality management processes, including practices to reduce carbon footprint
and promote sustainable business operations.
(3) Enhanced Risk Management:
Further development of risk-based thinking,
proactively identifying and addressing potential issues across the
organization.
(4) Stronger Stakeholder Focus:
Greater emphasis on understanding and addressing
customer needs, employee engagement, and broader stakeholder expectations.
(5) Supply Chain Management:
More rigorous evaluation of suppliers and managing
supply chain risks to ensure resilience.
(6) Ethics and Integrity:
Integrating ethical considerations and leadership
practices within quality management systems.
Key Focus Areas: In addition to
the anticipated changes as mentioned above, the revision may also address:
Quality Culture: Fostering a
culture that supports quality objectives and continuous improvement.
Customer Experience:
Expanding the focus from customer satisfaction to the broader customer
experience.
Additional key points to note:
Timeline: The revised ISO 9001
standard is scheduled for publication in September 2026.
Alignment with Other Standards:
The revision aims to harmonize ISO 9001 more closely with other management
system standards, such as ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), to facilitate
integrated management systems.
Impact on organizations:
Certified organizations will need to update their quality management systems to
comply with the revised standard. Based on past practice, organizations
currently certified under ISO 9001:2015 will likely have a three-year
transition period from the publication date to implement the new requirements.
The above information aligns with current
expectations for the ISO 9001:2026 revision. The revision process commenced in
late 2023. The ISO/TC 176 Working Group 29 (WG 29) initiated the update to
review existing requirements, consider emerging trends such as new
technologies, and align ISO 9001 with updates to ISO 9000, which covers
fundamentals and vocabulary.
A Working Draft (WD) was circulated in December
2023 to over 80 experts from 46 countries for review. Subsequent meetings,
including one in February 2024, have been held to evaluate inputs and progress
the draft. The development process includes multiple stages, with the current
focus on finalizing the content of the Second Committee Draft (CD2).
As of February 2025, the revision remains in the
Committee Draft (CD) stage. The project timeline has been extended to 36 months
to accommodate thorough review and consensus-building. The publication of the
revised ISO 9001 standard is now planned for September 2026.
To ensure a smooth transition, organizations should
stay updated through official ISO communications and actively engage with
industry experts. The information provided in this write-up has been compiled from various sources.
Regards,
Keshav Ram Singhal
Sources: thecoresolution.com, theauditoronline.com, committee.iso.org, 9001simplified.com
