In our current globalised economy and complex supply chains, John Ruskin’s adage, “Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort”, is even more relevant today than it was on the day he said it. Organisations cannot rely on chance and hope to deliver quality products and services; instead, they must establish a consistent and planned approach to managing quality. With over one million certified organisations worldwide, ISO 9001 remains the world’s most well-known standard, which provides organisations with a structured approach to quality management and helps them consistently provide products and services that meet and, where possible, exceed customer requirements.

What is ISO 9001?

Published initially in 1987, ISO 9001 is the first international management system standard (MSS) that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, operating, maintaining, and continually improving an organisation’s quality management system (QMS). 

ISO 9001 is based on seven quality management principles, and it aims to help organisations be more efficient and improve customer satisfaction. A common misconception is that ISO 9001 is intended for larger companies and manufacturers. However, the requirements of ISO 9001 are generic and applicable to any organisation, regardless of its type, size, or the products or services it provides.

Although ISO 9001 was initially published in 1987, it has undergone several revisions to keep up with good practices and trends in the business world and ensure continuous suitability. The latest (5th) edition of the standard is titled ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements. After running a survey with over 8,000 respondents, in May 2021, the ISO subcommittee for quality systems (ISO/TC 176/SC 2) confirmed that ISO 9001:2015 is still relevant and recommended that it remains unchanged.

Why is ISO 9001 important for organizations?

Since its initial publication, ISO 9001 has been the most recognised and widely used management system standard. A QMS based on ISO 9001 enables organisations to ensure success in the long term. In addition, a certified QMS provides additional assurance to customers and business associates, further improving an organisation’s business.

Even though ISO 9001 sets the minimum requirements that must be met, it still allows organisations to tailor the QMS to their needs. Thus, organisations should determine their overall context to identify issues, constraints, and opportunities specific to their context. In addition, they should set objectives and establish processes which contribute to achieving those objectives.  

A distinct feature of a QMS based on ISO 9001 is that it puts customers first. “Meeting customers’ needs and exceeding their expectations” is engraved in the quality management principles and is implied continuously in the requirements stated in clauses 4 to 10 of the standard. As such, organisations that implement and establish a QMS based on ISO 9001 will maintain the focus on their customers by continuously identifying their needs and requirements, obtaining feedback from them, and continually improving their products and services to fulfil their needs. This focus on customer satisfaction is a crucial factor that has allowed ISO 9001 to achieve landmark status.

Benefits of ISO 9001 for organisations

• Better performance
• Better integration of risk management
• Lower quality costs
• Improvement of processes
• Safer working environment

Why should you attend one of our ISO 9001 training courses?

While organisations can use ISO 9001 to obtain many benefits, many organisations cannot fully realise the benefits of a QMS implementation. Different factors contribute to the inability to integrate the QMS into the organisation’s processes. Such factors include, but are not limited to:

• The perception of the QMS as a system of documentation.
• The inability to identify non-conformities.
• The failure to ensure continual improvement.

PECB’s training courses, lead implementer and lead auditor, are tailored to overcome such challenges.

Globally recognized, PECB certifications demonstrate an individual’s professional capabilities to contribute to an organisation’s QMS as an auditor, implementer, or QMS implementation team member.

Obtaining a certificate in ISO 9001:

• Distinguishes you from other quality management consultants/auditors
• Demonstrates your awareness and knowledge of an internationally recognized standard for the management of quality in organisations
• Demonstrates that you have the necessary competencies to guide and support organisations through the implementation and management of a QMS (PECB Certified ISO 9001 Lead Implementer)
• Demonstrates that you have the necessary competencies to assess the conformity of a QMS against the requirements of ISO 9001 and the organisation’s requirements (PECB ISO 9001 Lead Auditor)
• Qualifies you to conduct third-party certification audits on behalf of conformity assessment bodies (PECB ISO 9001 Lead Auditor)
• Provides you with opportunities to further improve your career in quality management, either as an auditor, implementer, or a member of an auditing/implementation team

Why choose PECB for an ISO 9001 certification?

As a global training, examination, and certification service provider, PECB aims to help you demonstrate your commitment and competence by providing valuable education, evaluation, and certification against internationally recognised standards. 

ISO 9001 Lead Auditor and ISO 9001 Lead Implementer certificates are accredited by International Accreditation Services (IAS). The IAS Accreditation Mark provides additional value to the certificate and allows you to capitalise on IAS’s worldwide recognition.