ISO 9001:2026: A Transition Plan for Certified Organisations
The next edition of the quality management standard is ISO 9001:2026. For organisations certified to ISO 9001:2015, the question is no longer what will change but how to plan the move.
Key points
- ISO 9001:2026 replaces the 2015 edition after eleven years.
- The structure, the process approach and risk-based thinking remain.
- Confirm the transition deadline and arrangements with your certification body.
What to review
- Leadership: how top management promotes quality culture and ethical behaviour
- Context: climate change and other external issues, kept current
- Risks and opportunities: handled as two topics, each with actions
- Awareness: what people understand about the quality policy, objectives and their own contribution
- The expanded guidance in the annex, which explains the intent of the requirements
Six steps
- Obtain the standard and brief top management
- Run a clause-by-clause gap analysis
- Update processes and documented information where needed
- Train process owners and internal auditors on the 2026 edition
- Complete an internal audit and a management review
- Book the transition audit, ideally with a planned surveillance or recertification audit
Keep it proportionate
A system that works well under the 2015 edition does not need to be rebuilt. Spend the effort where the gap analysis shows a real difference, and use the transition to remove documents and controls that no longer add value.