ISO 9001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization that concentrates on Quality Management Systems (QMS). It started at the late 1940s when organizations wanted assurance of the quality of what was being produced. The eight over the years have evolved into practice norms.
The Birth of ISO Standards
ISO was established in 1947 with an objective of developing standards internationally. First, the process of implementing quality management standard was initiated in 1987 and the first known standard, ISO 9001 was formulated. This first version (with Version 2 introduced later in this document) addressed the primary objective of creating uniform quality of products within organizations.
Evolution of ISO 9001.
ISO 9001 was updated once in 1994 ,second in 2000 and the last update was in 2015. Every new version incorporated new requirements and development in the market. The one added in the version of 2000 proposed a model more linked to the process and focused on the customer satisfaction and the improve. This focus was also strengthened in the 2015 update of the standards, which combined risk management with strategic management.
Advantages of implementing ISO 9001.
The accreditation to ISO 9001 has its significance too. It enhances inter-organizational efficiency as well as endorsing customer trust. Organizations can reduce costs, lead-time, while improving on quality at the same period . Thirdly it results into opening up new markets, especially in Australia where market changes occur with high certifications of ISO 9001.
ISO 9001 in Australia.
In Australia, the particular ISO 9001 standard is mandatory for many sectors of business. They make show commitment towards quality as well as improvement of standards within the Woking University environment. Many organizations largely benefit from this certification especially in manufacturing, healthcare and services sectors. Clients and stakeholders will rather do business with firms that have opted to organize themselves in a standardized manner for example being ISO certified.
The Future of ISO 9001.
ISO 9001 will remain relevant within the various Industries within Industries since ever evolving industries will always prompt change to this observing standard. The later releases might be dedicated to the topics of digital transformation and sustainability. Any organization that accepts these changes will remain competitive while improving customers’ satisfactions.
Conclusion: Invest in Quality Management.
Recall the history of formation of ISO 9001 also shows that this standard is still relevant in the modern world. The benefits of obtaining an ISO 9001 certification in Australia comprise of increasing the company’s credibility and operation. Delivering quality products in the long run requires an effective quality management investment.
