ISO 9001:2024 Under Review – The Future of Quality Management

Just observed this morning that the upcoming revision of ISO 9001 is set to replace the 2015 version by 2026. Currently in draft under ISO committee review, ISO 9001:2024 introduces changes that reflect new priorities for quality management, particularly around sustainability, ethics, and leadership.

In this newsletter, I’ll try to break down these changes and explain how businesses can prepare themselves well while ensuring a smooth transition.

Key Changes in ISO 9001:2024

ISO 9001:2024 introduces some new requirements that may significantly impact your business’s Quality Management System (QMS). Let’s explore the major updates:

1. Clause 3: Additional Definitions (new)

ISO 9001:2024 integrates 20 new definitions from ISO 9000. This addition aims to provide clearer and more consistent terminology, making it easier to interpret the standard’s requirements.

Impact: Businesses will need to familiarize themselves with these new definitions and ensure the correct application within their QMS.

2. Clause 4.1: Climate Change Consideration (we had early this year)

A new requirement is the inclusion of climate change (we already observed this year!) as a factor that businesses must evaluate in their context. This reflects the increasing importance of sustainability in business operations.

3. Clause 4.2: Engagement with Interested Parties (we had early this year)

Clause 4.2 now includes additional guidance on relevant interested parties, especially those concerned with climate change. The requirements have been split into two sub-clauses for better clarity and specificity.

And I think the biggest one is here:

4. Clause 5.1: Leadership and Ethics (new and important one)

A stronger emphasis is placed on leadership in ISO 9001:2024. Top management is now expected to promote ethics and integrity actively, as well as align the business’s mission, vision, and values with a quality-focused culture.

Why ISO Bringing Such Changes?

With these changes in mind, I highly recommend businesses start looking into UN's Sustainable Development Goals as adapted by the ISO and they are going to influence all ISO standards in the future.

For now, here's a quick tip to help you start gearing up!

1. Assess Climate Change Risks

As auditors, we have already started asking this question. Start by analysing how climate change impacts your operations. This could range from supply chain disruptions to regulatory shifts. Integrate climate-related risks into your existing risk management framework and ensure they are addressed in your QMS.

2. Broaden Stakeholder Engagement

Update your approach to identifying and engaging with interested parties. Pay particular attention to stakeholders concerned with sustainability, such as environmental regulators, local communities, or even customers with sustainability goals.

3. Strengthen Leadership’s Role

Your leadership team should now take a more active role in promoting ethics, integrity, and a culture of quality. Make sure top management is visibly involved in aligning the business’s mission and values with these principles.

What Auditors Will Be Looking For

From an auditing perspective, the changes in ISO 9001:2024 will require a deeper look at how businesses integrate these new elements into their QMS. Here’s what auditors will focus on:

1. Climate Change Considerations

Auditors will expect to see clear evidence that your business has assessed the relevance of climate change in its context and taken steps to address associated risks.

2. Stakeholder Engagement

You will need to show that you’ve identified and engaged with relevant stakeholders, particularly those concerned with sustainability. Documentation of stakeholder input and how it influences your QMS will be crucial.

3. Leadership Involvement

Auditors will want to see that top management is actively promoting quality, ethics, and integrity within the business. This includes evidence of leadership’s role in fostering a quality-focused culture and integrating the business's mission and values into the QMS.

Benefits or Challenges of ISO 9001:2024?

Benefits:

• Enhanced Sustainability: By addressing climate change, ISO 9001:2024 aligns your business with global sustainability trends, making you more resilient and competitive.
• Stronger Leadership Focus: The emphasis on leadership involvement fosters a stronger businesses culture around quality and ethics.

Challenges:

• Increased Complexity: Adapting to these new requirements may require additional resources, especially for businesses that have not yet integrated climate-related risk assessments.
• Leadership Engagement: Ensuring that top management plays a more hands-on role in promoting quality may be challenging for larger businesses where delegation is common.

My Final Words

ISO 9001:2024 represents a significant evolution in quality management, focusing on sustainability, stakeholder engagement, and leadership commitment. I highly recommend business leaders start preparing themselves to transition in the future.

What do you think about these latest changes to ISO 9001:2024?

Let me know in the comments!

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