Customer focus
ISO 9001 places a strong emphasis on meeting customer needs and expectations. Organisations are required to identify and understand customer requirements and strive to exceed them.
Leadership and commitment
Top management plays a crucial role in the success of an ISO 9001 QMS. They are responsible for establishing a quality policy, ensuring the QMS is integrated into the organisation's strategic direction, and demonstrating leadership and commitment.
Continual improvement
ISO 9001 promotes a culture of ongoing improvement. Organisations must regularly review their processes, products, and services to identify areas for enhancement and implement corrective and preventive actions.
Internal audits
Organisations are required to conduct internal audits to assess the effectiveness of their QMS and identify areas for improvement. These audits are typically carried out by trained internal auditors.
Risk-based thinking
The latest version of ISO 9001 (ISO 9001:2015) incorporates the concept of risk-based thinking. This requires organisations to identify and address risks and opportunities that could affect their ability to achieve quality objectives.
Certification
Organisations can choose to undergo certification by external certification bodies to demonstrate compliance with ISO 9001. Achieving ISO 9001 certification is often seen as a mark of quality and can be advantageous when competing in the market.
