ISO 9001:2015 vs ISO 9001:2026
A practitioner-focused side-by-side. Final wording will be confirmed at FDIS — track this page for updates as the draft progresses.
| Area | ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 9001:2026 | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change | Not explicitly addressed. | Required to be considered as a relevant external issue and as part of risk and stakeholder analysis. | New |
| Digital transformation | Limited references to digital tools. | Explicit guidance on data integrity, automation, and organizational digital capability. | New |
| Risk-based thinking | Introduced as a core concept; light on operational evidence. | Stronger linkage between risk, opportunity, and operational planning. Clearer evidence expectations. | Expanded |
| Context of the organization (Cl. 4) | Identify external/internal issues and interested parties. | Refined expectations: relevance criteria, scope boundaries, climate-related issues. | Expanded |
| Leadership (Cl. 5) | Top management accountability for the QMS. | Sharper focus on culture, ethics, and integration with strategic direction. | Expanded |
| Documented information (Cl. 7.5) | Generic requirements for control of documented information. | Modernized for digital records, version control, and lifecycle management. | Expanded |
| Knowledge management (Cl. 7.1.6) | Organizational knowledge as a resource. | Stronger ties to digital systems and learning from change. | Expanded |
| Customer focus terminology | Customer-centric language throughout. | Broadened where appropriate to recognize stakeholder ecosystems without diluting customer primacy. | Clarified |
Climate change
NewNot explicitly addressed.
Required to be considered as a relevant external issue and as part of risk and stakeholder analysis.
Digital transformation
NewLimited references to digital tools.
Explicit guidance on data integrity, automation, and organizational digital capability.
Risk-based thinking
ExpandedIntroduced as a core concept; light on operational evidence.
Stronger linkage between risk, opportunity, and operational planning. Clearer evidence expectations.
Context of the organization (Cl. 4)
ExpandedIdentify external/internal issues and interested parties.
Refined expectations: relevance criteria, scope boundaries, climate-related issues.
Leadership (Cl. 5)
ExpandedTop management accountability for the QMS.
Sharper focus on culture, ethics, and integration with strategic direction.
Documented information (Cl. 7.5)
ExpandedGeneric requirements for control of documented information.
Modernized for digital records, version control, and lifecycle management.
Knowledge management (Cl. 7.1.6)
ExpandedOrganizational knowledge as a resource.
Stronger ties to digital systems and learning from change.
Customer focus terminology
ClarifiedCustomer-centric language throughout.
Broadened where appropriate to recognize stakeholder ecosystems without diluting customer primacy.
Disclaimer: this comparison is based on publicly available ISO/TC 176 communications and the current draft. The published 2026 text is authoritative and may differ in detail. Always consult the final standard before making certification decisions.