What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 Overview

​ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for quality management systems.

​Initially released in 1987, ISO 9001 was originally envisioned as a tool for procurement and supply chain management. In fact, ISO 9001's roots can be traced back to earlier government procurement requirements, such as the U.S. Department of Defense's  MIL-Q-9858, UK Def Stan, and NATO AQAP standards.

​Revised in the year 2015 (hence the designation ISO 9001:2015), the intent of this standard is to provide organizations with the elements of an effective Quality Management System (QMS) that can be integrated with other requirements and help organizations achieve  quality assurance of product and to enhance customer satisfaction.

To date, there are more then 1 million certified ISO 9001 companies. ​
​​

Quality Management System Principles

​At the core of the 2015 edition of ISO 9001 are the following seven Quality Management System principles:
  • Customer focus
  • Leadership​​​
  • Engagement of people
  • Process approach
  • Improvement
  • Evidence-based decision making
  • Relationship Management
​​​​​

Intended Benefits of ISO 9001

Organizations that have successfully implemented an ISO 9001 Quality Management System often report that, by adopting the requirements of this standard, their business has improved significantly over past performance levels.
​
Benefits associated with implementing an ISO 9001 Quality Management System are often considered to include:
  • ​Improved performance of affected processes;
  • Increased customer satisfaction levels;
  • Enhanced decision-making capability through emphasis on data;
  • Reduced operating costs related to waste, rework and non-value added activities;
  • Demonstrated compliance with customer, regulatory and other requirements;
  • Eligibility for contracts stipulating third-party (e.g., ISO 9001) certification.

The total list of benefits that could be realized by an organization is assorted and diverse. It is important that any organization considering ISO 9001 compliance, or subsequent certification for that matter, has established a clear understanding of, and reasonable expectations for, how ISO 9001 will benefit their business and strategic interests, prior to pursuing. 
​
Want to learn more about our ISO 9001 Consulting services?
View Current Brochure
ISO 9001 - Getting Started