What Is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is the quality management standard that sets out internationally recognised requirements for organisations to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve their quality management systems.
ISO 9001 can be applied to organisations of different sizes operating in manufacturing, services, trade, healthcare, education, technology and other sectors. The basic aim of the standard is to ensure that the organisation systematically manages and continually develops its processes so that it can meet customer and applicable legal requirements.
ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026
The 2015 version of ISO 9001 was widely used around the world for many years. However, ISO 9001:2026 was published on 16 September 2026 and became the new and current version of the standard. According to ISO's official records, ISO 9001:2015 has now been withdrawn.
For this reason, the requirements of ISO 9001:2026 must be taken into account today when establishing a new quality management system or updating an existing one.
Nevertheless, the expressions “ISO 9001:2015 Certificate”, “ISO 9001:2015 Quality Certificate” and “ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certificate” are still widely used on the market and in search engines.
Benefits of the ISO 9001 Quality Management System
ISO 9001 is not merely a process of obtaining a certificate; it is a quality management system approach that helps the organisation manage its business processes in a more systematic and measurable way.
An effectively implemented ISO 9001 system can contribute to organisations in areas such as:
- More systematic management of customer expectations and satisfaction,
- Ensuring continuity in product and service quality,
- Defining business processes and keeping them under control,
- Reducing errors, nonconformities and recurring problems,
- Measuring and analysing process performance,
- More effective use of resources,
- Increasing operational efficiency,
- More systematic assessment of risks and opportunities,
- Developing a culture of continual improvement,
- Increasing trust among customers and business partners
ISO also states that quality management systems can contribute to more efficient use of resources, consistent operation of processes and increased customer value.
Why Obtain an ISO 9001 Certificate?
ISO 9001 certification ensures that the conformity of the organisation's quality management system with the relevant ISO 9001 requirements is assessed by an independent certification body.
Certification may be chosen for purposes such as:
- Demonstrating the quality management system to corporate customers,
- Meeting the required conditions in tender and supplier assessment processes,
- Building trust with international customers,
- Supporting corporate competence in export and supply chain processes,
- Showing that the organisation's quality processes are managed systematically
The ISO 9001 certificate is not legally mandatory for every organisation. Certification may be chosen depending on the organisation's customer, sector, tender, supply chain or other commercial requirements.
ISO 9001 Certification Process
The certification process for the ISO 9001 quality management system is planned by examining the organisation's existing structure and scope of activity.
In general, the process proceeds as follows:
- Determining the organisation and scope of activity
- Assessing the current situation and processes
- Planning the quality management system requirements
- Creating or updating the required documentation
- Implementing the processes and creating records
- Internal audit and management review
- Carrying out the certification audit
- Conformity assessment and certification
- Maintaining and continually improving the system after certification
For the credibility of certification, it is important that the certificate is issued by a competent and, where required, accredited certification body. ISO also states that accreditation can provide independent assurance of the competence of the certification body.
For Which Companies Is the ISO 9001 Certificate Suitable?
ISO 9001 is not limited to a specific sector. For example, it can be applied in very different fields of activity such as:
- Machinery and metal industry
- Automotive and supplier industry
- Food and packaging
- Construction and engineering
- Electrical and electronics
- Furniture and manufacturing
- Software and technology
- Logistics and foreign trade
- Consultancy and professional services
- Healthcare and education
- Wholesale and retail trade
Regardless of the organisation's size or number of employees, the quality management system can be set up according to the organisation's structure of activity.
ISO 9001:2026 Certification and Consultancy Service
At Istanbul Certificate Office, we assess organisations' ISO 9001 quality management system needs according to their fields of activity and objectives, and provide professional support in certification and system set-up processes.
At the start of the process, we assess together the steps:
Company Activity → Scope → Existing System → ISO Requirements → Documentation → Implementation → Audit → Certification
If you hold an existing ISO 9001:2015 certificate, you can also work in coordination with your certification body to have your existing system assessed and a transition plan drawn up for the transition to the new ISO 9001:2026 standard. ISO advises organisations to discuss transition arrangements with their own certification bodies for the transition from the 2015 edition to the 2026 edition.
To Obtain an ISO 9001 Certification Quotation
To receive information about ISO 9001 certification or quality management system work for your company, you can send us:
- Your company's field of activity,
- Your number of employees,
- Your certification scope,
- Your existing ISO certificates,
- The intended use of the certificate,
- Any customer or tender requirements
By assessing your company's needs, we can provide information on the appropriate ISO 9001 certification and consultancy process.
