Upcoming Revision of the ISO 9001 QMS Standard

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 

Clarifications: Added on 21 March 2025

(1) It is clarified that ISO standards are reviewed every five years, but revisions aren’t mandatory unless deemed necessary. For ISO 9001, the timeline has varied: 1987 to 1994 (7 years), 1994 to 2000 (6 years), 2000 to 2008 (8 years), 2008 to 2015 (7 years). The range of 6–10 years fits historically, but the “typically five years” claim applies to reviews, not revisions. 

(2) As regards - The revision may focus on "resilience, supply chain management, change management, sustainability, dealing with risks, [and] organizational knowledge." - the facts are: Expected changes align with speculated changes based on industry discussions and ISO committee hints (e.g., from DGQ and TC 176 members). Digital transformation and sustainability are widely expected, especially post-2024 amendment, though specifics remain unconfirmed until drafts are finalized. 

(3) ISO reviews its standards every five years to assess their relevance, but revisions to ISO 9001 have historically occurred every 6 to 10 years, depending on need (e.g., 2000 to 2008: 8 years; 2008 to 2015: 7 years).

(4) Initially slated for December 2025, the revision is now expected in late 2026 due to the need for a second Committee Draft (CD2) after feedback on the first draft (CD1) in 2024 revealed unresolved structural and content issues.

(5) The revision may emphasize resilience (e.g., adapting to disruptions like pandemics), supply chain management (e.g., supplier performance monitoring), digital transformation (e.g., integrating AI and data analytics), sustainability (building on the 2024 climate amendment), and enhanced risk management (e.g., separating risks from opportunities). These reflect stakeholder feedback and global trends, though final changes await draft confirmation.

(6) The ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) standard, last revised in 2015, received a climate change amendment in February 2024 (ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024), adding considerations to Clauses 4.1 and 4.2. In August 2023, ISO/TC 176 approved a full revision—36 votes for, 25 against—driven by technological advancements and global challenges like supply chain disruptions. While ISO reviews standards every five years, revisions to ISO 9001 typically span 6–10 years. Initially targeting December 2025, the release is now delayed to late 2026 due to the need for a second Committee Draft (CD2) after feedback on CD1 in 2024.

Thanks,

KRS