There have been various versions of the ISO 9001 with each upgrade aimed at addressing users’ ever-changing needs. The first version was published in 1987 (ISO 9001:1987), followed by an updated version in 1994 (ISO 9001:1994). Concurrently, ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 9001:2008 were published. This article is written to address the question “Which is the latest version of the ISO 9001?” recycled by many aspiring ISO 9001 Auditors.

What is ISO 9001?

For many who may be wondering what even an ISO 9001 is… ISO 9001 is the global standard for a Quality Management System. It helps organizations demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer needs and regulatory requirements and to show their commitment to continuous improvement. Before an organization can be certified to the ISO 9001, it must meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 Standard.

The core role and responsibility of the ISO 9001 Auditor is to audit the organization against the latest version of the ISO 9001 to determine compliance or otherwise with the standard and recommend a quick corrective course of action that will qualify the organization for certification. It is in the best interest of the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor to have a comprehensive knowledge of the ISO 9001 Standard, its requirements, procedures, and method of application. It is of utmost importance that the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor or aspiring lead auditor keep abreast of the changing trends of the standard, especially its most recent or current version.

Which is the latest version of the ISO 9001?

In a bid to improve user experience and meet users’ changing needs, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) regularly publishes improved versions of their respective ISO standards including ISO 9001. The latest version of the ISO 9001 was published in 2015 making the ISO 9001:2015 the most improved and latest version of the ISO 9001.

Previously, ISO had three sets of quality requirements which are: ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003. Both ISO 9002 and ISO 9003 were dropped and the ISO 9001 became the only standard for a quality management system. It is also the only standard in the 9000 series that requires certification.

Figure 1: Versions of the ISO 9001

Auditors who wish to develop an improved understanding of ISO 9001 and learn the skills required to perform a first, second, and third-party audit of the quality management system against the ISO 9001 standard must undergo the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor training.

ISO 9001 QMS Lead Auditor Course:

The ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor course is designed to arm participants with the required knowledge and skills to audit an organization against the ISO 9001 Standard. Delegates who complete the training and pass the final assessment will receive the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor certificate of achievement. He/she is then certified to evaluate an organization’s quality management system to determine its effectiveness while recommending and implementing improvement strategies.

There are various counterfeit certificates of the ISO 9001 Lead Auditor that are being issued to delegates by unapproved training institutes. This proves problematic as auditors with unrecognized certificates are left embarrassed and unable to carry out their duties due to a lack of trust in their ability by concerned organizations.

To avoid this dilemma, it is important for aspiring lead auditors to get their ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor training at an Approved Training Partner of the CQI IRCA. The Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) is the professional body for experts in improving product, project, and service quality. The International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) is a division of the CQI and the market leader in providing management systems auditing training and certification.

Lead Auditors that get certified from an approved training institute of the CQI & IRCA can be confident that their certification meets the highest standards and can be tenable anywhere in the world.

Get enrolled, get certified!

3FOLD Training is certified by the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) and approved to deliver the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor course to aspiring lead auditors. When you enroll in 3FOLD for the ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor course, you will gain a better understanding of the latest version of the ISO 9001 and develop the skills to conduct a first, second, and third-party audit of the quality management system against the ISO 9001, in accordance with ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 17021, as applicable. 3FOLD offers the courses at incredibly affordable fees.

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