ISO 9001 is an international standard for quality management systems (QMS). The standard provides a framework for organizations to establish, maintain, and continually improve the quality of their products, services, and processes. It is based on a number of quality management principles, including customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, and continual improvement.
The ISO 9001 standard outlines the requirements for a QMS, including:
Customer focus
Organizations must understand the needs and expectations of their customers, and aim to consistently meet or exceed these expectations.
Leadership
The leadership of the organization must provide direction and support for the QMS, and ensure that quality is integrated into all aspects of the organization.
Involvement of people
The involvement of all employees is crucial to the success of a QMS. Organizations must create a culture of continuous improvement and encourage the active participation of all employees.
Process approach
Organizations must understand the relationships between processes, and apply a process approach to managing their operations. This includes identifying, documenting, and controlling their processes, and regularly reviewing and improving them.
Continual improvement
Organizations must continuously improve their QMS, seeking to identify areas for improvement, and making changes as necessary.
Organizations can be certified to the ISO 9001 standard by demonstrating that they meet the requirements of the standard. This certification provides assurance to customers and stakeholders that the organization has a robust and effective QMS in place, and is committed to continuous improvement.