ISO 9001:2008 WILL BE UPDATE TO ISO 9001:2015

The ISO’s most pupolar standard – ISO 9001 now is under revision and updating. The survey’s been completed, the drafts discussion was started and the time frames was tentatively proposed; ISO 9001 - is now under revision with the new working title as ‘ISO 9001:2015’.

According to the draft design specification that allready discussed, the revised standard should (amongst other things):

Provide a stable core set of requirements for the next 10 years or more
Remain generic, and relevant to all sizes and types of organization, operating in any sector
Maintain the current focus on effective process management to produce desired outcomes
Take account of changes in quality management systems practices and technology since the last major revision in 2000
Reflect changes in the increasingly complex, demanding and dynamic environments in which organizations operate
Apply Annex SL of the ISO Directives to enhance compatibility and alignment with other ISO management system standards
Facilitate effective organizational implementation and effective conformity assessment by first, second and third parties
Use simplified language and writing styles to aid understanding and consistent interpretations of its requirements

Being arguably ISO’s most important standard, their ‘fast track’ revision approach will not be used. Instead, a conservative approach is being used with the traditional 3 year revision cycle. As work has already begun, it means the standard is most likely to be called ISO 9001:2015, with a proposed publication in September 2015.

All of this is good news for current ISO 9001 users. They can update their existing systems without the dramatic upheaval some would have experience in the last major revision (ISO 9001:2000). It also allows technical experts to take the time needed to thoroughly address the changes required without damaging the effectiveness of the existing standard.

I am using ISO 9001:2008. What does this means for me?

We expect to publish the new version of ISO 9001:2008 by the end of 2015. At that point there will be a transition period (usually two years) before ISO 9001:2008 officially becomes out of date.