ISO 9001 is going through an evolutionary update. No one need panic; this is not a major re-write, this is growth.
The current transition period gives organisations time to prepare. ISO 9001:2026 was published in September 26 and has a 3-year transition period, meaning organisations currently certified to ISO 9001:2015 will need to transition by September 2029.
So, what’s changing?
The new standard places greater emphasis on quality culture, leadership behaviour, employee engagement, organisational learning and continual improvement. These areas were implied within the 2015 standard, however become more explicit in the 2026 version.
What does this actually mean?
Auditors will likely expect evidence that employees understand quality objectives, quality isn’t only owned by management, lessons learned are communicated, improvement suggestions are encouraged, and leadership actively promotes quality culture.
This could be evidenced through management meetings, internal audits, improvement logs, training records and documented examples of actions taken
Ethics, integrity and trust
One of the bigger changes is the increased emphasis on ethical behaviour, integrity of information, decision making and trustworthiness of products and services. The standard introduces stronger expectations around ethical conduct, integrity of information, decision making and trustworthiness of products and systems.
For many organisations, this should already be supported through existing controls such as: Codes of conduct, anti-bribery and corruption policies, ESG commitments, supplier requirements and information governance policies
Risk and opportunities
Risk-based thinking has been part of ISO 9001 for some time, but the 2026 update puts stronger emphasis on defining risk and opportunities. Where businesses complying with 9001 will already have this in place also. Strong evidence will be required to show risks are identified consistently, opportunities are considered, changes are planned and actions are monitored.
Quality and business strategy
Other changes will include the need to ensure that the quality policy and objectives align more clearly with business strategy and the wider direction of the organisation. Quality policies and objectives should clearly support business strategy, organisational goals and the needs of relevant stakeholders.
Organisations should be able to demonstrate how quality objectives support strategic direction and business goals rather than existing purely as compliance objectives.
Climate change
The 2024 amendment introduced the need for climate change considerations, 2026 now incorporates these into the standard. How could climate change impact your organisation, products, services or ability to meet customer requirements? How has this been considered and how is it reviewed?
What does this mean for your business?
The good news is that much of this shouldn’t feel completely new.
If your organisation already has a mature quality management system, many of these requirements will already be embedded within your processes. The transition is about making those practices more visible, consistent and connected to the way your organisation operates. Look at your quality objectives, risk management, leadership involvement, employee engagement, improvement processes and climate-change considerations.
The earlier you identify any gaps, the more time you have to address them before your transition audit.
Need help preparing for ISO 9001:2026?
If you’re unsure what the changes mean for your organisation or want to make sure you’re ready for the transition, our team can help.
Get in touch with iSTORM® to discuss your ISO 9001 requirements and how we can support you through the transition.
