The difference between ISO 9000 and 9001 is that ISO 9000 is a series or family of quality management standards and ISO 9001 is a subset of this family. The family of ISO 9000 standards also includes an individual standard called ISO 9000.
What is ISO 9000 ?
ISO 9000:2015, the latest version of this family of standards, describes the basic concepts and principles of quality management. This standard is universally applicable to organizations seeking success through management systems, supply chain logistics, improving internal communications, and more.
ISO 9001 specifies terms and definitions that apply to all quality management system standards established by ISO/TC 176.
What is ISO 9001 ?
ISO 9001:2015 is a unique standard in the body of ISO 9000 standards. An organization can use a quality management system when it needs to demonstrate its ability to provide products and services that meet applicable legal requirements.
Detailed processes, including gap analysis and internal audits, must be performed using ISO 9001 to maintain the quality management system. All requirements of this standard are general and applicable to any organization, regardless of its type or size, or the products and services it offers.
The difference between ISO 9000 and 9001
Considering the similarity of the names of these standards, it can be assumed that there are few differences between these two standards. According to the definition we had so far of the difference between ISO 9000 and 9001, we know that ISO 9000 is a set of words and definitions that you get to know to understand other specific standards, while ISO 9001 specifies the requirements for implementing a quality management system.
ISO 9000 is basically a set of vocabulary and definitions for the entire quality management suite, while ISO 9001’s main goal is to get the business owner to take more action on quality procedures.
In addition, we examine some other differences between ISO 9000 and 9001:
- ISO 9000 is a quality management standard used in business, but ISO 9001 applies to the implementation of this quality management system.
- ISO 9000 is designed to assist organizations that need to implement a quality system, while ISO 9001 is based on four key principles of quality management.
- ISO 9000 covers health care, food, retail and manufacturing, but ISO 9001 covers settlement, management, customer relations and internal audits.
ISO 9000 series
As we said, ISO 9000 partially refers to a family of standards for managing the organization’s quality system; But it is also an international standard on its own. The quality management family includes the following:
- ISO 9000:2015 Quality Management Systems – Basics and Vocabulary (Definitions)
- ISO 9001:2015: Quality management systems – Requirements
- ISO/TS 9002:2016 Quality management systems – Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2015
- ISO 9003:1994 Quality systems – A model for quality assurance in inspection and final testing
- ISO 9004:2018 Quality management – Guidance for achieving sustainable success (continuous improvement)
- ISO 19011:2018 Guidelines for audit management systems
Due to the difference between ISO 9000 and 9001, some organizations use these two quality standards simultaneously. This pair of standards is based on the seven principles of quality management. Managers can use these principles to help improve their organization and improve their quality management system (QMS).
What is ISO certification?
Being certified by ISO means that you adhere to the expectations and qualifications of the latest standards set by the global organization. This certificate shows that your products meet international requirements and that your business is updated to the latest possible standards.
This declaration of conformity is very important for your business; Because your products must reflect the actions taken to create stability and certainty in the global production market.
How to get ISO certification
Note that real people cannot get ISO certification and these standards are only defined for businesses and organizations; You should also know that the ISO organization develops standards but does not issue certification.
As you might expect, ISO has a Conformity Assessment Committee (CASCO) that manages the qualifications for the certification process.
When choosing a certification authority, it is necessary to evaluate several companies to choose the best one. The certification timeline depends on several factors, including the requirements study, an organization’s level of readiness, and its size and complexity.
Facilitate the certification process
Now that you are familiar with the difference between ISO 9000 and 9001, it is not a bad idea to briefly discuss the process of obtaining the certificate. ISO certification can both give manufacturers a competitive advantage and help ensure the highest standards of compliance available. Here are some tips to help facilitate the certification process:
get ready
Meet with the appropriate members of your organization to understand where to start with documentation, training employees on the new compliance, and other subsequent tasks in the process.
This initial step should include creating specific, achievable, realistic, and timely goals.
Apply the changes to your QMS
Once your business is ready with a documented QMS that complies with ISO 9001 requirements, you can implement ISO quality measures.
This phase implements plans, including relevant training for all employees with updated expectations for their roles. Implementing change requires the participation of your company’s employees, especially everyone who oversees or manages a process.
Consider an internal audit
The audit process can be performed by an internal team of quality representatives or by professional auditors from any quality assurance agency.
They will review your newly implemented QMS to ensure it is working effectively and adheres to the ISO 9001 standard. This process should detect any inconsistencies in the QMS so that you can resolve them before issuing the certificate.
Summary of the differences between ISO 9000 and 9001
ISO’s broad focus is the development and publication of international standards that help provide solutions to problems faced by businesses and organizations around the world. In this article, we tried to introduce you to the difference between ISO 9000 and 9001.
ISO 9000 includes guidelines for how a company’s products and services can be managed to meet customer needs to ensure that there are no negative effects on these products.
ISO 9001 guides how companies should manage their quality-related processes, including the flow of information and communication through the hierarchy.