What is ISO 9001:2015 Certification?
ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized standard for quality management systems (QMS). It is part of the ISO 9000 family of standards, which provides guidelines and requirements for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system.
Here are some key points about ISO 9001:2015 certification:
Purpose:
ISO 9001:2015 sets out the criteria for a quality management system that helps organizations ensure they meet customer and regulatory requirements while striving for continual improvement.
Structure:
The standard follows a high-level structure known as the "Annex SL" framework, which aligns it with other ISO management system standards. This makes it easier for organizations to integrate multiple management systems, such as quality, environmental, or information security management.
Key Principles:
ISO 9001:2015 is based on several fundamental quality management principles, including customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making, and relationship management.
Requirements:
The standard outlines specific requirements that organizations must meet to achieve certification. These requirements include establishing a quality policy, defining processes and their interactions, ensuring resource availability, conducting risk-based thinking, and implementing a continuous improvement cycle.
Certification Process:
To become ISO 9001:2015 certified, an organization typically follows these steps:
> Develop and implement a quality management system that aligns with ISO 9001:2015 requirements.
> Conduct an internal audit to assess the system's effectiveness.
> Engage a third-party certification body (also known as a registrar) to perform an independent audit and assessment.
> If the organization meets the standard's requirements, the certification body issues an ISO 9001:2015 certificate.
Benefits:
ISO 9001:2015 certification offers various benefits, including improved product and service quality, enhanced customer satisfaction, increased operational efficiency, better risk management, and improved market competitiveness.
Continuous Improvement:
ISO 9001 emphasizes the importance of continual improvement. Organizations must regularly monitor and evaluate their processes and take corrective actions when necessary to enhance their overall performance.
Global Recognition:
ISO 9001:2015 is internationally recognized and respected. It can be a valuable asset for organizations that want to demonstrate their commitment to quality to customers, partners, and stakeholders worldwide.
Certification to ISO 9001:2015 is not mandatory but is often pursued by organizations seeking to improve their quality management practices and enhance their reputation in the marketplace. It's important to note that certification requires a significant commitment of time and resources, and organizations must maintain their quality management systems to retain their certification.