The QM Corner stands for one topic, one hour and one virtual event. The third session of the established format dealt with the current status of the revision of ISO 9001.
The first changes to ISO 9001:2015 have been officially confirmed. In section 4, climate change is included as one of the external topics to be considered. This change is based on a decision by the ISO Technical Management Board (TMB) to take climate change into account in the quality management system. In order to give the North Rhine-Westphalian mechanical and plant engineering industry an insight into the upcoming changes to the standard, ProduktionNRW organized the third NRW-QM-Corner on 11 July 2024.
Revision of ISO 9001:2015
Dr. Frank Bünting, Deputy Head of Department at VDMA Business Advisory, gave an insight into the ongoing process of revising ISO 9001 and assessed the potential impact on mechanical and plant engineering. The first change with amendment 1/2024 involves checking whether climate change is a relevant topic for the company’s own management system. The background to this is ISO’s London Declaration, according to which the content of all management system standards that are essential for supporting the climate agenda are to be adapted. According to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), these changes to ISO 9001 do not represent new requirements, but rather clarifications of existing requirements. The aim is to adapt to climate change, quantify greenhouse gas emissions and disseminate best practice in environmental management.
There will also be changes in the area of leadership (section 5.1.1) and a separation between risks and opportunities (section 6.1.1). The revised standard will also contain a detailed annex, which will mainly serve as an explanation. The current schedule envisages that the new ISO 9001 will probably be published from 2026.
Exchange of experience and discussion
In the concluding discussion, the impact that the revision of ISO 9001 could have on the double materiality analysis or the Supply Chain Act was discussed, among other things. It was also noted that ISO 9000, which includes the definition of risks, would also need to be revised. Overall, however, the participants did not see the revision of ISO 9001:2015 as a major challenge for companies with a functioning quality management system.
Organizer
The event is offered by ProduktionNRW. ProduktionNRW is the cluster for mechanical engineering and production technology in North Rhine-Westphalia and is organised by VDMA NRW. ProduktionNRW sees itself as a platform for networking, informing and marketing companies, institutions and networks with each other and along the value chain. Significant parts of the services provided by ProduktionNRW are subsidised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.