ISO 9001:2008 is a Quality Management System Standard. In November 2008 the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced a revised Quality Management standard based on the same process model as the 2000 revision, with an emphasis on measuring customer satisfaction.The internationally recognized quality management system standard is the preferred solution for organizations worldwide.

As the world’s most widely recognized quality management standard ISO 9001:2008 outlines ways to achieve, as well as benchmark, consistent performance and service.The goal is for all organizations to seek continual performance improvement. All types of organisations can implement this system and achieve continual improvement and customer satisfaction.

ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System enables an Organisation to demonstrate its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, as well as continuously improving upon the company’s operations.

All requirements for quality management of the product or service are covered in ISO 9001:2008 which includes a quality planning requirement along with policies, measurable objectives and quantifiable targets.

ISO 9001 focuses on identifying the basic disciplines and specifying the general criteria by which any organization, regardless of whether it is a manufacturing or service oriented, can ensure that products/services meets the requirements of its customer.

An ISO 9001 quality management system Standard help an organization to continually monitor and manage quality across all operations.

ISO 9001:2008 basically renarrates ISO 9001:2000. The 2008 version only introduced clarifications to the existing requirements of ISO 9001:2000 and some changes intended to improve consistency with ISO 14001:2004. There were no new requirements.

ISO 9001 is supplemented directly by two other standards of the family:

  • ISO 9000:2005 “Quality management systems. Fundamentals and vocabulary”
  • ISO 9004:2009 “Managing for the sustained success of an organization. A quality management approach”
  • Other standards, like ISO 19011 and the ISO 10000 series, may also be used for specific parts of the quality system.

A next version of the standard is expected to be published in December 2015, if the ISO members vote favorably in March 2015.

Benefits of ISO 9001:2008

  • Defines roles and responsibilities and increase employees’ understanding of their roles in success of their work and the company.
  • Improves accountability of the organization’s management
  • Motivate and engage staff with more efficient internal processes
  • Broaden business opportunities by demonstrating compliance
  • Creates greater motivation and dedication
  • Establish and streamline processes through complete documentation
  • Improves and establishes training processes
  • Improves relationships with suppliers due to clear, concise production standards.
  • Provides basis for consistent and fact-based decision making
  • Provides for regular audits/reviews of performance
  • Helps to meet customer needs in a legal, ethical and effective manner.
  • Provides advantages over competitors that aren’t certified ISO 9001:2008
  • Increases operational efficiency
  • Maximizes quality-Increases Productivity.
  • Increases revenue thereby Improving employee morale and satisfaction
  • Reduce Cost, Wastages, Saves time and money
  • Win high value customers and thereby providing better customer service