What is the difference between ISO 9001 and 2015?

In today's ever-evolving business landscape, organizations strive to enhance their quality management systems to maintain a competitive edge. One widely recognized standard that helps companies achieve this goal is ISO 9001. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has periodically updated this standard to ensure its relevance. The latest version, ISO 9001:2015, brings several notable changes compared to its predecessor, ISO 9001:2008. This article delves into the in-depth technical details of these differences.

Contextual Shifts

The update from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015 reflects a shift in how organizations perceive quality management systems. While both versions emphasize customer satisfaction and continuous improvement, ISO 9001:2015 puts more emphasis on risk-based thinking and a process approach.

Risk-based thinking requires organizations to identify potential risks and opportunities related to their quality management processes. By assessing and addressing these risks, companies can proactively prevent or mitigate issues, enhancing overall performance. In addition, risk-based thinking encourages organizations to identify areas for improvement and pursue innovation.

The process approach emphasizes understanding and managing interactions between different processes within an organization. It promotes a holistic view of operations, ensuring that each activity contributes to overall efficiency and effectiveness. By adopting a process mindset, companies can improve coordination, reduce duplication of efforts, and streamline operations.

Structural Changes

ISO 9001:2015 introduces a revised structure known as "High-Level Structure (HLS)" or "Annex SL." This common framework aligns ISO 9001 with other ISO management system standards like ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 27001 for information security management. The HLS harmonizes the core elements, terms, definitions, and structure, making integration and compatibility among multiple management systems more straightforward.

The new structure comprises ten clauses that follow a uniform sequence: scope, normative references, terms and definitions, context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. These clauses foster a cohesive approach to quality management and facilitate an integrated management system within organizations.

Additionally, ISO 9001:2015 introduces a new emphasis on leadership. Organizations must demonstrate commitment and engagement from top management in driving the quality management system's effectiveness and success. Leaders are expected to establish and communicate quality objectives, align them with the organization's strategic direction, and ensure their achievement through appropriate resource allocation and continuous monitoring.

Enhanced Requirements

ISO 9001:2015 includes several enhanced requirements compared to its previous version. Some of the notable changes include:

- A stronger emphasis on understanding the organization's context, interested parties, and their needs and expectations.

- An expanded focus on the application of the "Plan-Do-Check-Act" (PDCA) cycle throughout the organization's processes and decision-making.

- A requirement to determine and address organizational knowledge necessary for the operation of processes and achieving conformity of products and services.

- Extended requirements for outsourcing and the control of externally provided products and services.

- A more comprehensive perspective on performance evaluation, which includes monitoring customer satisfaction and perception.

- An increased emphasis on continual improvement, emphasizing proactive actions for enhancing performance and achieving desired outcomes.

In conclusion, ISO 9001:2015 brings significant changes compared to the previous version, ISO 9001:2008. Organizations seeking ISO 9001 certification or aiming to improve their existing quality management systems must carefully assess and adapt to these changes. By embracing risk-based thinking, a process approach, the high-level structure, and enhanced requirements, companies can enhance their overall performance and meet evolving customer expectations.