ISO 9001 specifies requirements for a quality management system. The adoption of a quality management system can help to improve its overall performance and provide a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives. ISO 9001 handbook guides SMEs in developing and implementing the standard and audit checklist to fulfil the requirements.
The potential benefits to an organisation of implementing ISO 9001 are:
— the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements,
— facilitating opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction,
— addressing risks and opportunities associated with its context and objectives,
— the ability to demonstrate conformity to specified quality management system requirements.
ISO 9001 employs the process approach, incorporating the Plan-Do-CheckAct (PDCA) cycle and risk-based thinking. It does not include requirements specific to other management systems, such as environmental management, occupational health and safety management, or financial management.
The requirements of ISO 9001 apply to any organisation, regardless of its type or size, or the products and services it provides.
The text of ISO 9001:2015 has been approved in Europe as EN ISO 9001:2015 without any modification and it supersedes EN ISO 9001:2008.
