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Knowledge

09 January 2017
Quality Management

How to Change From ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015

How-to-Change-From-ISO-9001-2008-to-ISO-9001-2015.jpg

As you’re probably aware, the ISO 9001 standard is the internationally recognised benchmark for quality management. It’s the most popular standard in the world, with over one million businesses achieving certification to ISO 9001.

However, if your business is new to standardisation and the ISO, you may be surprised to learn that your certification has a lifespan.

ISO standards are reviewed every five years, in order to discover whether a revised version is needed. If a standard is no longer relevant to an industry or business practices, or has become incompatible with other standards, ISO may choose to release an updated version. 

In 2015, ISO’s most popular standard was revised, and ISO 9001:2008 became ISO 9001:2015

What does this mean for businesses who are currently compliant with ISO 9001:2008 and what does it mean for businesses that are seeking their first compliance certification?

Below we outline all you need to know about ensuring your quality management system is compliant with the updated standard.

 

ISO 9001:2015 - The Updated Quality Management Standard

ISO 9001:2015 is the latest version of the quality management standard. According to ISO, the revised version of the standard was intended to “make it more applicable and accessible to all types of enterprises.”

Furthermore, ISO notes significant structural changes from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015:

“The most noticeable change to the standard is its new structure. ISO 9001:2015 now follows the same overall structure as other ISO management system standard (known as the High-Level Structure), making it easier for anyone using multiple management systems,” they say.

ISO 9001:2015 also includes a fresh emphasis on risk-based thinking. 

According to ISO, the new standard has several benefits to all kinds of businesses, including more emphasis on leadership engagement, simplified language and terms, and a more user-friendly application for service and knowledge-based organisations.

 

I’m Certified to ISO 9001:2008, Do I Have to Change to ISO 9001:2015?

If your business is certified to ISO 9001:2008, you will need to update your quality management system to become compliant with the updated standard, ISO 9001:2015. You will also need to transition your existing certification to the updated standard. 

ISO grants a three-year transition period for businesses updating to the new standard. This means that after September 2018, certification to ISO 9001:2008 will no longer be valid.

However, it’s advised that businesses implement the revised version of the quality management standard as soon as possible, in order to enjoy the several benefits of the updated document. Leaving the transition process too late also puts your business at risk of a period of noncompliance should you hit any roadblocks during the transition process.

  

How Do I Change From ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015?

If you’re certified to ISO 9001:2008, you already have a strong quality management system in place, thus transitioning to the updated standard should be a smooth process. 

However, transitioning from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015 will require some of the same processes that take place when becoming compliant to a new standard.

At Compliance Council, we’ve developed a 3-Step Transition Process so you can upgrade to the new ISO 9001 standard smoothly and efficiently: 

Step 1 - A gap analysis comparing your current systems to those outlined in the new standard.

Step 2 - Generating required system documents.

Step 3 - Implementation and review of documentation, to ensure your systems are compliant to the updated standard, and to ensure you will reach certification when visited by a third-party certification body.

Transitioning from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015 doesn’t have to be a headache. To learn more about how your business can reach compliance to the new version of the quality management standard, get in touch with us today.

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