ISO 9001 explained to the curious 

By Marie-Claude Turcotte, B.Ed., MBA 

For many years now, banners have been appearing on buildings saying “ISO 9001”. When I mention that I give training on this standard, many people remind me of this fact and ask me what it eats in winter. So here’s a short explanation of what it is, who it’s for and why we should care.

The exact title of ISO 9001 is “Quality management systems – Requirements” and it was last revised in September 2015, hence its full name ISO 9001:2015. This standard sets out the requirements for quality management systems. Considering that a system is an ordered set of elements that perform a function, that management is defined by the action of managing, organizing and directing something, and that quality is the way something is (good or bad), we can say that a quality management system is an ordered set of elements that manage, organize and direct the way something is (good or bad). Simply put, your organization’s QMS is the set of things you do to ensure that your product or service meets legal, regulatory or customer requirements.

While the standard was initially aimed primarily at manufacturing companies, the latest editions aim to include service companies more clearly. This means that the standard can be applied to all types of organization, whatever their sector of activity or size. I like to say that ISO 9001 is for everyone and their grandmother. It should be noted that there is no obligation to obtain a certification. An organization can align its quality management system with the requirements of the standard in order to meet applicable requirements and improve customer satisfaction. The main requirements of ISO 9001 relate to knowledge of the organization’s context, leadership, risk management, formalization of operational and support processes, and non-quality management.

All organizations would do well to take an interest in ISO 9001, since the application of its principles promotes profitability through the continuous improvement of business practices. It’s a bit like improving your archery technique to hit the bull’s-eye more often, while reducing the effort required to shoot the arrow. Implementing a quality management system that complies with this international standard makes it possible to improve business practices, first by formalizing them and then by encouraging their improvement.

ISO 9001:2015 provides the requirements for a quality management system, it is aimed at all types of organization, from manufacturing to services, and encourages the deployment of a culture of continuous improvement.To learn more on the ISO 9001 standard, click here.