Following a decision by TC176’s Strategic Planning and Operations Task Group in May 2023, a ballot was held to determine whether to revise ISO 9001:2015. Voting members, of TC 176 Sub Committee 2, comprising National Standard Body representatives, were invited to cast their vote in respect of one of two options:

1. to start a revision with immediate effect based on a design specification produced by TC176 Technical Group 5. 
2. to leave ISO 9001 ‘as is’ until its next scheduled review in 2026, at which time a decision will be taken as to whether to revise it, withdraw it, or to accept it in its current form.

The ballot ran from 28 June 2023 to 28 July 2023. 

Speaking on the ballot, Alexander Woods, CQI Policy Manager, said:
 

“We wholeheartedly support the ISO TC 176 /SC 2 vote to progress with updating ISO 9001:2015. Embracing change is crucial for the standard to remain valuable and relevant. Improvement will ensure it reflects current best practices in quality management, considering the evolving economic, technological, and societal landscape. We are optimistic about the opportunities to ensure the continued relevance, usefulness, and value of ISO 9001."

The CQI is a Category A Liaison to ISO TC 176/SC 2. While this means the CQI is unable to vote, it commented in favour of a revision to the standard. This comment was based on the extensive work undertaken by the CQI Standards Coordination Committee to determine how ISO 9001:2015 could be improved in the face of significant changes in technology, the global economy, societal expectations, and the need to protect the natural environment. 

The CQI believes this to be the right decision. ISO 9001 needs to be relevant to the internal and external business environment organisations face today, not that they faced when the standard was last revised, a process which began over a decade ago. It must also be designed to mitigate and exploit the present and emerging opportunities and threats presented by digital technologies, the climate emergency, and global economic and political instability.  

Having already contributed to the development of TC 176/SC 2’s design specification for the next edition of ISO 9001, the CQI looks forward to participating in the creation of the new standard. With direct representation on the writing team, the CQI will be seeking to engage its members through the revision process. The Standards Coordination Committee will oversee this engagement and will ensure every effort is made to support the work of ISO TC 176/SC 2 and that of its National Standards Body representatives.  

The Committee is comprised of standards users, makers, thought leaders and management systems experts drawn from a variety of backgrounds and industries.