ISO 9001 Certification
Quality management systems
ISO 9001 is the most widely used management standard in the world. Certification demonstrates that your organisation consistently delivers products and services that meet customer and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Current edition
- ISO 9001:2015
- Intended for
- Any organisation, regardless of size or sector
- Certificate validity
- 3 years, with annual surveillance audits
- Integrates with
- ISO 14001 · ISO 45001
What is ISO 9001
ISO 9001:2015 sets out the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). The standard is based on the process approach, the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and risk-based thinking, and is built on the seven quality management principles: customer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision making and relationship management.
The standard does not prescribe how the organisation must operate, but what outcomes the management system must ensure: understanding customer requirements, controlling processes, addressing risks and continually improving performance. For this reason, ISO 9001 applies to any organisation, from micro-enterprises to multinational groups, in manufacturing, services, construction, IT or public administration.
ISO 9001 certification by an independent body confirms that the management system is implemented and effective. The certificate is recognised by customers, partners and contracting authorities and is frequently a qualification condition in tenders and supply chains.
- Companies taking part in public or private tenders where ISO 9001 certification is a qualification criterion
- Suppliers and subcontractors in industrial supply chains
- Organisations that want to standardise processes and reduce errors and the cost of poor quality
- Growing companies that need a clear structure of responsibilities and processes
- Service providers that want to demonstrate a consistent level of quality to their customers
Benefits of ISO 9001 certification
Access to contracts
Meet the qualification requirements of tenders and of large customers' supplier audits.
Controlled processes
Clear responsibilities, established procedures and monitored performance indicators.
Lower cost of poor quality
Fewer errors, complaints, returns and rework, by systematically addressing root causes.
Customer satisfaction
Customer requirements are identified, monitored and turned into measurable objectives.
Data-driven decisions
Management review and internal audits provide an objective picture of performance.
Foundation for integrated systems
The common structure (Annex SL) allows easy integration with ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or ISO/IEC 27001.
Main requirements of the standard
The standard follows the high level structure (Annex SL) common to ISO management system standards, with its requirements set out in clauses 4 to 10.
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Clause 4
Context of the organisation
Understanding internal and external issues and interested parties, and defining the scope of the quality management system.
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Clause 5
Leadership
Top management commitment, customer focus, the quality policy and the assignment of roles and responsibilities.
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Clause 6
Planning
Actions to address risks and opportunities, quality objectives and planning of changes.
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Clause 7
Support
Resources, competence, awareness, communication and control of documented information.
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Clause 8
Operation
Operational planning and control, requirements for products and services, design and development, control of external providers, production and service provision, control of nonconforming outputs.
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Clause 9
Performance evaluation
Monitoring and measurement, customer satisfaction, internal audit and management review.
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Clause 10
Improvement
Handling nonconformities, corrective action and continual improvement.
Amendment 1:2024 on climate change
Since February 2024, clauses 4.1 and 4.2 require organisations to determine whether climate change is a relevant issue for the management system and for interested parties. IQ Cert audits verify how this issue is addressed.
The ISO 9001:2026 revision
ISO is preparing a new edition of the standard. After publication, certified organisations will benefit from a transition period, and IQ Cert will communicate the transition timeline and requirements to all certified clients.
What ISO 9001:2026 changesThe Certification Process
A clear and transparent process, from application to certificate issuance.
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01
Application and quotation
Send us your organisation's details and the standard you are aiming for. We review your application and prepare a tailored quotation, including the audit duration and plan.
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02
Stage 1 audit
We review your management system documentation and assess how ready your organisation is for the certification audit.
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03
Stage 2 audit
The on-site audit checks that the system is implemented and effective against the requirements of the standard.
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04
Decision and certificate
The certification committee reviews the audit report and issues the certificate, valid for 3 years.
Annual surveillance audits and a recertification audit at the end of the three-year cycle keep your certificate valid without interruption.
Certification RegulationsFrequently asked questions about ISO 9001
Can't find the answer you are looking for?
Contact usIs ISO 9001 certification mandatory?
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What happens if the audit identifies nonconformities?
Integrated certification
Standards that share the same structure can be implemented as one integrated system and audited together in a single combined audit, reducing total audit time.
Request a quote for ISO 9001 certification
Tell us a little about your organisation and the standard you are aiming for. We will come back to you with a quotation and a proposed audit schedule as soon as possible.
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +40 750 419 503
- Working Hours
- L-V: 09:00 - 18:00