Global ISO 9001:2026 has been published

The core principles remain familiar, but there is greater emphasis on areas such as:

• Leadership and quality culture
• Identifying and managing both risks and opportunities
• Responsibilities within the organisation
• The effectiveness of the quality management system

But how can you prepare your organisation for these changes? Drawing on our auditing experience, we have put together some practical tips to help you get started:

• Look beyond the procedures. An effective quality management system is more than just documentation. Check whether agreed procedures are actually being followed in day-to-day operations.
• Make your quality objectives measurable. Can you demonstrate what results have been achieved and what improvements have been made as a result?
• Actively involve senior management. Quality is not solely the responsibility of the quality manager. It is a shared responsibility across the entire organisation.
• Make risks and opportunities tangible. Ensure your assessments reflect day-to-day operations and that you can demonstrate the effectiveness of the measures taken.
• Use internal audits to drive improvement. An internal audit is more than a compliance check. It is an opportunity to critically review processes and identify areas for improvement.

Our advice: Don’t wait until your next certification audit. Start reviewing your current quality management system against the requirements of ISO 9001:2026 well in advance.

At Q-Point, we help organisations translate the requirements of standards into practical, workable solutions that fit their day-to-day operations.