Preparing for the New ISO 9001 Standard

The ISO 9001 standard is the most widely adopted quality management framework globally, and its pending new edition is set to bring important changes. For organisations, this is not just an editorial refresh but a shift in emphasis that strengthens the role of quality management in today's business environment.

At the Institute of Testing, Inspection & Certification Professionals (ITICP), we have carried out a gap analysis against the ISO 9001 Draft International Standard (DIS) to identify the key differences from ISO 9001:2015. This analysis highlights where organisations will need to adapt their systems in readiness for transition.

Key Changes in the DIS

• Climate Change – Organisations must explicitly consider climate change when assessing context and stakeholder needs.

• Interested Parties – Beyond identification, organisations must determine which stakeholder requirements are addressed by the QMS.

• Risks and Opportunities – The planning section is more prescriptive, requiring risks and opportunities to be separately identified, evaluated, and acted upon.

• Internal Audit – Expanded requirements for a structured audit programme with scope, frequency, and responsibilities defined.

• Management Review – Outputs reframed as "results," emphasising actions and decisions.

• Continual Improvement – Elevated in the structure, placing proactive improvement at the forefront.

Preparing for Transition

Organisations can begin preparing by:

1. Updating context analysis to include climate change.

2. Reviewing stakeholder requirements and clarifying which are addressed.

3. Revising risk registers to explicitly include opportunities.

4. Strengthening audit programmes with documented scope and frequency.

5. Recording management review results, not just outputs.

6. Capturing continual improvement initiatives that go beyond corrective action.

Resources for ITICP Members

To support the transition, ITICP members can access the following documents in the secure area:

• ISO9001 2015 and ISO9001 2026 DIS Gap Analysis.docx

• ISO9001 2015 and ISO9001 2026 DIS Gap Analysis Table Format.docx

• ISO 9001 2026 DIS – Auditor Quick Reference Guide.docx

• ISO 9001 2026 Practical Transition Checklist.docx

These resources are designed to give professionals clear, practical tools to assess their current systems and plan effectively for transition.

The ITICP Perspective

The pending release of the new ISO 9001 standard will strengthen the role of quality management in resilience, sustainability, and stakeholder confidence. ITICP encourages members to begin planning early, ensuring they are fully prepared when the revised standard is published.