Introduction
A quality management system (QMS) refers to a formalized system that plays a key role in the documentation of procedures, processes, and various responsibilities targeted at the achievement of quality objectives within organizations. Therefore, the role of QMS is associated with the coordination and direction of organizational activities with the purpose of meeting regulatory demands and customers’ needs; if implemented correctly, such a system can reduce organizational waste, lower operational costs, engage staff in achieving goals and objectives, set the overall direction of an organization, improve important processes, as well as help in facilitating and identifying opportunities for future training.
Analysis
ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard that specifies general requirements for effective management of quality within organizations. This standard is considered the most relevant and prominent approach to improving QMS (American Society for Quality, 2015). Organizations apply the ISO 9001:2015 standard in their practice for demonstrating their ability in providing high-quality products or services on a consistent basis for meeting regulatory requirements as well as customer demands. When using the standard, organizations can effectively manage their processes, improve the efficiency of their employees, and implement continuous enhancement procedures to address the challenges and trends of industries within which they operate.
The most noticeable difference between ISO 9001:2015 and its previous version, ISO 9001:2008, is that the newer edition of the standard follows a completely different structure of system standards. The new structure makes it easier for organizations to use several management systems at the same time. Also, ISO 9001:2015 is different from the ISO 2008 version in its focus on risk-based assessments and thinking. Despite the fact that ISO standards have always integrated the feature of risk-based thinking, the 2015 version has a much more prominent focus on this aspect, as mentioned by the International Organization for Standardization (2015). Compared to the previous version, the new ISO standards can bring organizations more benefits such as emphasizing the importance of leadership engagement, helping overcome organizational risks, using more clear and straightforward language when using several management systems, addressing challenges of supply chain management, and integrating user-friendly services to enhance organizational performance.
References
American Society for Quality. (2018). What is ISO 9001:2015 – quality management systems? Web.
International Organization for Standardization. (2015). Moving from ISO 9001:2008 to ISO 9001:2015. Web.