September 2015 saw the publication of ISO 9001:2015 – the latest iteration of the world’s leading Quality Management System.
If your organisation has been enjoying the benefits of ISO 9001:2008 for some time, these are the 3 big changes you need to know;
Annex SL – by far the biggest change to the standard is the introduction of Annex SL, the new high level structure and common text for all new and revised ISO standards. Using a common framework helps to keep consistency, align different management system standards, offer matching sub-clauses against the top level structure and apply common language across all standards.
Continuous Improvement Focus – To the excitement of many a Lean advocate, ISO 9001:2015 adopts the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle at its very core. This emphasis of PDCA highlights an evolution in philosophy for the new standard that pulls focus away from rigid documentation requirements and moves towards continual assessment, innovation and enhancement of processes.
QMS Ownership – Another big philosophical change is the ownership of the QMS. The latest standard moves towards people owning the QMS, rather than one individual. Top management now have greater involvement in the management system and must ensure that the requirements of it are integrated into the organization’s processes and that the policy and objectives are compatible with the strategic direction of the organization. The quality policy should be a living document, at the heart of the organization
Get in touch to find out more about ISO Quality Management, and how it can help your business.