Have you Debunked these Five ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Myths?

Summary
This article has listed five myths about ISO 9001:2015 that you must debunk. Go through the article to learn the myths.

It is true that the modifications made to ISO 9001:2015 have accepted by most of the quality professionals across the globe. However, there is still a group of companies that have been confined to the misconceptions about the changes made in the latest version of ISO 9001. In this blog, we are going to list five common myths about the standard identified by the renowned ISO quality management pundits all over the world.

Let’s have a clear understanding of the common myths about ISO 9001 quality management standard:

1. ISO 9001 Certified Quality Management System (QMS) Ends up the Necessity of Management Representative

Since the requirement for a management representative has been eliminated in the latest version of ISO 9001, people are misinterpreting it. Most of the people have started thinking that the new version has ended the necessity of the management representative. This is nothing but a misconception. It is true that the management representatives are no more the sole focus for your QMS, but their role has not been ended. You will find the roles changed in the new version- that’s all! The new roles include:

• Mentoring and Assisting the top Management
• Helping other employees understand their duties, key responsibilities, and obligations
• Playing the role of facilitator

2. Quality Manual or Documentation must be Abandoned

The previous version of ISO 9001 (ISO 9001:2008) compelled the organizations to provide the auditors with a quality manual. This requirement is no more a mandate in the latest version. Well, most of the businesses are banishing their previous quality manual, which might be relevant even to the present context. This is something you should not do. The quality manual is no more a mandatory requirement, but it does not mean that you need to banish a relevant and effective quality manual. If your existing quality manual fits well in the modified QMS, all the discrete ISO certification consultants will advise you to keep them. It will help your auditors examine your systems easily. Moreover, it will save your time as well as the auditors’ time.

3. It is Essential to Rename Your QMS to Reflect your Compliance to the ISO 9001:2015 Clauses

ISO 9001:2015 never asks you to rename or renumber your QMS for highlighting your compliance with the clause references of the updated version. It is your Quality Management System and you are free to refer to the clauses in any way that is suitable and easy for your organization. For instance, if you want to write “our internal & external operating environment” instead of “context”, it is not going to be an issue. The auditors can easily link it to the standard. Therefore, there is no need of renaming your QMS or a certain section of your QMS so far it can be easily linked to the ISO 9001 quality management standard.

4. You Need to Restructure your QMS Entirely to Follow the Sequences of the Requirements Suggested by ISO

You just need to meet the requirements of the latest version. There is no specific rule that you must adapt to meet the requirements. If your existing QMS can meet the ISO 9001:2015 requirements by implementing a few additional clauses (newly added to the last version), you do not need to restructure the QMS. We all know that restructuring an existing Quality Management System is not an easy task. It is not only a difficult task but also a time-consuming one. Therefore, reconstructing the entire QMS would not be a wise decision especially when a little modification can make it relevant to the ISO 9001:2015 Standard.

5. You are Bound to Update your QMS to Demonstrate your Compliance with the Latest Updated Standard

ISO 9001:2015 has come up with a number of changes in the terminology n the latest version of the ISO 9001 Standard. Which are the remarkable changes in the terminology? Let’s have a quick glimpse of the changes-

Well, it does not imply that you need to change all the words mentioned in your quality management system. The requirement of changes will depend on your present context.

Are you still nurturing any one or all of these five myths? The, immediately debunk the myth and enjoy the seamless benefits of ISO 9001:2015