What are the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard?
ISO 9001 is an international standard that defines the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). It is designed to help organizations deliver products and services that meet the requirements of customers and other stakeholders.
The ISO 9001 standard is divided into 10 chapters (clauses). The 309 requirements are in chapters 4 to 10. The chapters cover the following areas:
1. Scope: This chapter defines the purpose and scope of the standard.
2. Normative references: This chapter identifies the normative documents that are used by the standard.
3. Terms and definitions: This chapter defines the terms used in the standard, see also the ISO 9000 standard.
4. Context of the organization
The organization shall:
- Identify its external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and its strategic direction, and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its quality management system
- Understand the needs and expectations of its stakeholders
- Determine the scope of its quality management system
- Establish and maintain its QMS and processes concerned
5. Leadership
Top management shall:
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to the quality management system
- Ensure that the quality policy is established and communicated throughout the organization
- Appoint a person who shall have authority and responsibility for the development, implementation, and improvement of the quality management system
6. Planning
The organization shall:
- Establish objectives and processes related to risks and opportunities
- Plan actions to achieve these objectives
- Plan the changes
7. Support
The organization shall:
- Provide resources necessary to support the implementation and improvement of its quality management system
- Train, and provide the necessary competence for all personnel performing work affecting product conformity
- Make aware the personnel performing work affecting product conformity
- Communicate relevant information within and outside the organization
- Control the QMS documentation
8. Operation
The organization shall:
- Plan, implement and control its operational processes
- Determine product and service requirements
- Plan and control design and development
- Control external providers
- Control production and traceability
- Check the conformity of the products and services released
- Prevent the use of non-conforming products
9. Performance evaluation
The organization shall:
- Monitor, measure, analyze, and evaluate the conformity of products and services with customer and stakeholder requirements
- Conduct internal audits in order to evaluate the effectiveness of its quality management system
- Realize management reviews at planned interval
10. Improvement
The organization shall:
- Identify and control nonconforming products and services
- Take action to prevent the recurrence of nonconforming products and services
- Continually improve the quality management system
Organizations that can demonstrate compliance with these requirements can obtain ISO 9001 certification.
ISO 9001 certification can provide numerous benefits to organizations, including:
- Improved product and service quality
- Reduced costs
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
- Improved reputation
- Increased market access
