We are thrilled to announce the upgrade of our ISO 9001 certification to the new ISO 9001:2015 standard. After a rigorous certificate renewal and transition audit being successfully completed in November 2017, we received our updated ISO 9001:2015 certificate, stating that “RG-Group operates a Quality Management System for the Design, Service, Repair and Distribution of Motion Control and Fluid Handling Products and Systems.”
RG-Group’s current certified locations are:
So what are the differences between ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015 and why the upgrade?
ISO 9001:2015 HAS TEN CLAUSES INSTEAD OF EIGHT
These clauses represent the different SOPs and processes within our organization that are associated with strengthening our Quality Management System.
The first three clauses in ISO 9001:2015 are largely the same as those in ISO 9001:2008, but there are considerable differences between ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 9001:2015 from the fourth clause onwards. The last seven clauses are now arranged according to the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act). The following figure shows this.
Clauses 4, 5, 6 and 7 of ISO 9001:2015 come under PLAN, clause 8 comes under DO, clause 9 comes under CHECK and clause 10 is covered by ACT.
With the addition and new structure, ISO 9001:2015 adds additional support to the continuous improvement of processes within organizations.
ISO 9001:2015 Puts More Focus on Inputs—Proactive Approach
There is more emphasis in ISO 9001:2015 on measuring and properly assessing the inputs and outputs of processes. According to ISO 9001:2015, you must closely monitor which articles, information and specifications are involved in the production process.
The Newest Addition to ISO 9001:2015 is Risk-Based Thinking and Assessment
Risk-based thinking has a very important place in ISO 9001:2015. It is strongly encouraged to use risk analysis in order to decide which challenges you see in the management of business processes.
Formal risk analysis, like FMEA (Failure Mode Effects Analysis), is now standard for everyone. The addition of risk-based thinking has made the ‘preventive measures’ of ISO 9001:2008 obsolete. These preventive measures no longer appear in ISO 9001:2015.
Leadership and Commitment
ISO 9001:2015 also places more emphasis on leadership and management commitment. It requires greater involvement by top managers and business leaders in controlling the quality management system.
ISO 9001:2015 is intended to encourage integration with business processes and business strategies. The top management now has to take more responsibility for the effectiveness of the quality management system. Because ISO 9001:2015 pays more attention to risk management, interested parties and the context of the organization, the quality management system also fits in better with the needs of the top management.
The ‘management representative’ of ISO 9001:2008 was a member of the management committee who had the responsibility and authority for steering the quality management system along the right lines. ISO 9001:2015 eliminated this position. The idea behind the change is that quality