The Next ISO 9001 Revision
9 October 2024
The ISO 9001 standard is periodically reviewed and revised in order to keep it relevant and useful. The typical update cycle of 6-8 years had us expect a new version by 2023. However, ISO surprised us twice: first in mid 2021 when ISO announced to skip the scheduled revision, and then in July 2023 when ISO changed course and announced that it would immediately commence the revision of ISO 9001:2015.
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.
Update on ISO 9001 Revision: Delays and Controversies
The Next Revision: ISO 9001:2026?
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.
Potential Publication Date and Challenges
According to its official notice, ISO/TC 176 has announced a target publication date of September 2026 for the revised ISO 9001 standard. The delay is attributed to several factors, including internal disagreements within the technical committee and challenges in aligning the new version with ISO's 'Smart' standards initiative.
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.
If the September 2026 publication date is met, organizations will have a three-year transition period, making the deadline for compliance September 2029. However, this timeline is not guaranteed and may be subject to further changes.
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, most notably the concept of risk-based thinking.
Based on the history of previous revisions and recent developments, we can expect that the next update will be published in the year 2026 or 2027, followed by a three-year transition period during which both versions will remain in effect.
What to Expect from the Next ISO 9001 Revision
The purpose of the survey taken in 2021 was not only to identify users' view on the current version of the standard but also to gather ideas as to what should change. The input of users and industry associations, as well as the discussions with other influential quality professionals has lead us to expect the following changes in ISO 9001:2026:
Integration of emerging technologies, including the rapid increase in digitization and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in automated decision marking
Inclusion of ethics and integrity and alignment with company decisions, actions and interactions with stakeholders
Expansion of the concept of customer satisfaction to become the entire customer experience
Renewed focus on quality assurance (this could also lead to increased customer pressure to get ISO 9001 certified, a development that ISO would certainly appreciate)
Clarifications for service providers and strengthening service requirements (some even suggest a separate standard for services)
Further clarifications that the QMS is an integral part of the business processes
After maintaining the status-quo of ISO 9001 for 11 years, it is possible that the next revision will contain important changes though the recently scrapped first draft was notably void of any real changes and focused more on clarifications. In addition, the mandated high-level structure limits the possible innovation.
Conclusion
While the ISO committee has officially announced its plans, reports from industry observers suggest that the revision process faces significant challenges and controversies. Quality management professionals should stay informed about these developments and be prepared for potential changes in the timeline and content of the revised standard.
The upcoming revision of ISO 9001 may or may not represent an important evolution in quality management standards. While the exact changes remain to be seen, organizations can prepare by:
Staying informed about the revision process with 9001Simplified.
Implementing or maintaining a robust quality management system based on the current standard.
Fostering a culture of continual improvement within their organization.
By taking these steps, organizations can position themselves to adapt seamlessly to the new standard while reaping the benefits of improved quality management practices.
For comprehensive support in implementing and maintaining ISO 9001 certification, consider utilizing resources such as the ISO 9001 Certification Toolkit, which offers free updates for five years, ensuring your QMS remains current and effective.
