The ISO 9001:2015 standard is a globally recognized quality management system standard. It is used by organizations of all sizes and in all industries to improve their quality management processes. To learn more about ISO 9001:2015 NEXT REVISION, join GIAYCHUNGNHAN in reading the following article.

1. ISO 9001:2015 Will Be Revised

• ISO’s surprise announcement on 29 July 2023 to immediately begin the revision process of ISO 9001:2015 left most industry experts baffled. After its mid 2021 decision to keep ISO 9001:2015 unchanged, observers had expected that the revision decision wouldn’t be revisited prior to 2026 with an ISO 9001:2030 revision generally expected. So, what happened?

• Initially, and for the first time, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) decided to keep its most famous management standard – ISO 9001 – unchanged during its scheduled review in 2021.
• The decision was made based on a user survey that ISO’s technical subcommittee in charge of ISO 9001 conducted in 2020. Following the users’ vote, an internal review, and a ballot among its members, the subcommittee approved the confirmation of ISO 9001:2015 without revision on 1 May 2021.
• However, the 2021 ballot was taken by a narrow margin, opinions remained divided, and proponents of a revision continued to make their case. Eventually another task force, the Technical Group 5, was created to study the need for an early revision of ISO 9001. Following the group’s report in spring 2023, ISO’s technical subcommittee TC 176 / SC 2 organized another ballot of its 81 National Standards Bodies. With 78 votes cast, a “sizable majority” voted in favor of revising the ISO 9001 standard without delay.

2. Update on ISO 9001 Revision: Delays and Controversies

• The decision to revise ISO 9001:2015 necessitated the formation of a new working group within Technical Committee 176, Subcommittee 2 (TC 176/SC 2). This group’s primary task is to meticulously review and discuss comments and suggestions from committee members, ensuring that the revised standard meets the evolving needs of organizations globally.
• Typically, the development and approval process for such standards spans approximately three years due to the complexity of achieving consensus among diverse stakeholders. Based on this timeline, 9001Simplified and other industry experts initially projected the publication of the next ISO 9001 edition for 2026.
• Recent Developments and Setbacks

Recent information from authoritative sources within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) indicates significant developments in the revision process:

• Rejection of Initial Draft
  The current draft of the ISO 9001 revision, which had been in development for nearly a year, has been rejected by the ISO Central Secretariat. This unexpected setback has necessitated the commencement of work on a second draft.
• Outsourcing Controversy
  Reports suggest that the development of the second draft has been outsourced, a decision that has sparked controversy within the standards community. This unusual approach to standards development raises questions about consistency, expertise, and stakeholder representation in the revision process.
• Anticipated Delays
  These recent events indicate that the revision process for ISO 9001 is likely to extend beyond the initially projected timeline, potentially delaying the publication of the new standard beyond 2026.
• Implications for Quality Management Professionals

For professionals involved in implementing and maintaining ISO 9001-based quality management systems, these developments imply that organizations can expect ISO 9001:2015 to remain the current standard for a longer period, allowing for continued focus on existing implementation and improvement efforts.

3. ISO 9001 Revisions

• ISO’s technical committee ISO / TC 176 / SC 2 is responsible for the periodic review and revision of ISO 9001. The goal is to maintain or improve the standard’s usability and relevance in the face of advances in technology, changes in the global business environment, and trends in society. Since its initial publication in 1987, there have been 4 revisions. The most current version – ISO 9001:2015 – was published in 2015.
• ISO 9001:1987: the first edition of the ISO 9001 standard was derived from a military quality standard and focused on manufacturing. In fact, there were three variations for different scope of business activities: ISO 9001 for companies that were engaged in design, production and servicing; ISO 9002 for companies in production and servicing; and ISO 9003 for final inspection only. Without distinguishing between them, they were commonly refer to as “ISO 9000”.
• ISO 9001:1994: the first revision added the concept of preventive action rather than just checking conformance of the final product. Like the first edition, the 1994 revision required evidence of compliance with documented procedures, often resulting in much unnecessary documentation and bureaucracy.
• ISO 9001:2000: the 2000 version combined ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003 into a single, universally applicable standard that allowed for exclusions of requirements that don’t apply to the organization. The 2000 edition introduced numerous radical changes in addition to a new structure. For example, it introduced the concept of processes and systems, and the management of integrated processes. Other notable changes were the required participation of senior management in the new quality management system, the use of metrics to track performance, and the concept of continual improvement.
• ISO 9001:2008: the 2008 revision merely introduced some new wording and clarifications but no new requirements. Organizations that had correctly interpreted and applied the previous version remained unaffected.
• ISO 9001:2015: the latest version of the standard introduced the new high-level structure (Annex SL) and featured several new and modified requirements, 

For more information on ISO 9001:2015 for Small Enterprises, we invite you to read the following article.

4. How can organizations start preparing for the next ISO 9001 revision?

Organizations can prepare by:

• Staying informed about potential changes and participating in industry consultations.
• Reviewing their current systems to ensure they are flexible and capable of adapting to new requirements.
• Focusing on areas such as risk management, digital transformation, and sustainability, which are likely to feature prominently in the next version.

5. What do you need to do to implement the ISO 9001:2015 standard?

• It’s in your organization’s best interest to make the transition to ISO 9001:2015 as soon as possible and take advantage of the most up-to-date information. For companies who are adopting the standards for the first time, implementing the 2015 revision will prevent you from wasting time implementing standards that are already obsolete, only to transition to new standards later.
• In a competitive market, adopting the new standards will allow you to get ahead of some of your competition, and prevent clients from asking when you are going to make the transition to current standards. This may help place you ahead of other businesses who are waiting to make the transition, and show your clients that you are keeping up with current trends. It is only a matter of time before the new version of ISO 9001 will become a requirement on tenders.
• If your business is already compliant with ISO 9001:2008, then you have a great head start. Learn about the changes and start planning your transition. Your knowledge will only help save time and money by allowing you to avoid hiring expensive consultants.

6. Questions 

How will risk-based thinking evolve in the next ISO 9001 revision?

Answer:
Risk-based thinking is expected to be further emphasized, with organizations needing to show more evidence of risk assessment and mitigation planning across all processes. The next revision may incorporate more detailed requirements for resilience in the face of unexpected global events (e.g., pandemics or supply chain disruptions).

How will the next revision of ISO 9001 address digital transformation?

Answer:
The next revision may include more explicit guidelines on managing digital quality processes, including the use of automation, data analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) in quality management systems.

How will sustainability be addressed in the future version of ISO 9001?

Answer:
ISO 9001 may align more closely with sustainability goals, encouraging organizations to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into their quality management practices. This could involve new requirements for tracking and reducing environmental impacts.

Will there be changes to the leadership and commitment clause in the next revision?

Answer:
The leadership and commitment clause may be expanded to place greater emphasis on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability leadership, encouraging top management to take more proactive roles in both quality and sustainability practices.

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