Introduction
The origins of The International Standards Organisation (ISO) can be traced back to World War II, when there was a heightened demand for improved safety standards in factories producing explosive devices. In 1979, the ISO 9000 series, previously known as BS 5750, was established, requiring businesses to adhere to stringent production protocols. The criteria for this standard were largely influenced by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
In response to growing dissatisfaction with the initial BS 5750 guidelines, which were primarily tailored for manufacturing sectors, the ISO 9001 standard was officially launched in 1987. Many organizations found the original guidelines inadequate for their diverse operational needs across various industries.
ISO 9001 was developed to resolve these challenges by providing a comprehensive quality management framework applicable to all businesses and sectors. Designed to be adaptable to different products and industries, ISO 9001 has undergone numerous updates and revisions to keep pace with the dynamic nature of the business environment.
1994
The initial revision occurred in 1994, during which the ISO aimed to shift the emphasis of the original standard towards quality management systems (QMS). This approach involved monitoring and evaluating products at every stage of their development, rather than solely at the final stage. The focus of this change was on quality assurance through proactive measures, rather than merely rectifying issues after they arose. Essentially, QMS transitioned from a reactive ‘cure’ approach to a proactive ‘prevention’ strategy.
2000
In 2000, ISO 9001 underwent another revision. The objective this time was to streamline processes and reduce documentation requirements, thereby alleviating the burden of quality control procedures for companies that did not engage in the production of new products. Additionally, this revision sought to enhance the participation of senior management to ensure that quality control was integrated across all levels of the organization. The overarching aim of this update was to improve efficiency through the implementation of process performance metrics, emphasizing continuous process enhancement and the monitoring of customer satisfaction.
2008
The modifications to ISO 9001 in 2008 were relatively minor compared to earlier revisions. During this phase, the focus was on providing clearer explanations of existing standards to improve alignment with other ISO standards, such as ISO 14001, without introducing any new requirements.
Latest Revision in 2015
The most recent change in ISO 9001 history came in 2015 after it was decided that a new QMS model for the next 25 years had to be created. As a result of this, work on created a new version if ISO 9001 began, starting with updated quality management principles. The change came not with the scope of the standard, but rather the core terms, to allow greater integration with other international management systems. This update also made the standard less prescriptive than previous versions, focusing much more on performance.
This was accomplished by incorporating a process approach with risk-based thinking. Communication was a made a key area with the change, with the need for a quality representative eliminated, there is much more emphasis placed on everyone within the business having an influence in the development and maintenance of the QMS.
The standard is now seen as an ever-evolving document, being continually edited and updated with input from a number of trade committees and organisations with quality management know-how from across the globe, in order to stay as relevant to worldwide businesses as possible.
If you would like further information on ISO 9001 then please do not hesitate to contact us today. To get certified, please click below.