Preparing for ISO 9001:2026: What You Need to Know

The revision of ISO 9001 has been delayed from December 2025 and it is now planned to publish ISO 9001:2026 in September 2026.

There is no official guidance on what will be included in ISO 9001:2026 as it is confidential. Be cautious of organisations claiming to know the details. TÜV SÜD will keep you informed so subscribe to our email newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn for updates. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is updating the existing 2015 version of the Quality Management System standard, ISO 9001. This revision marks a pivotal moment for organisations worldwide, emphasising the importance of staying ahead when it comes to quality assurance.

Why the Revision?

The last revision of ISO 9001 was completed in 2015. To keep ISO standards up-to-date and relevant, continuous evaluation is essential. Following extensive international consultation, a consensus was reached in August 2023 to revise the standard. In a rapidly changing business environment, the need for agility and resilience is more crucial than ever. This upcoming revision aims to align ISO 9001 with the current needs of its users and the communities they serve, ensuring it remains valuable and effective. The current ISO 9001:2015 standard must evolve to address new trends and challenges such as:

• Technological advancements: The rise of automation, AI, and Big Data (digitalisation) is transforming business operations.
• Sustainability: Integrating environmental and social responsibility into core practices is becoming essential.
• Remote and hybrid working: Following COVID-19, there has been an increase in remote and hybrid working which brings its own challenges regarding infrastructure, communication and working environment.

What Might be in the ISO 9001:2026 Revision?

The ISO TC 176/SC2/WG29 report, states that “adjustments to ISO 9001 are planned with regard to the aspects of resilience, supply chain management, change management, sustainability, dealing with risks [and] organizational knowledge”.

While specific details of the ISO 9001:2026 revision are still confidential, several key areas could see significant changes:

• Promotion of ethics and integrity by leaders: Importance of ethics and integrity as core elements of effective leadership in quality management.
• Enhanced focus on risk management: A stronger emphasis on proactive risk management could be introduced, including identifying, mitigating, and adapting to emerging threats.
• Greater emphasis on stakeholder engagement: Stakeholder voices such as customers, employees, suppliers and the community, are likely to have more influence.
• Improved alignment with other management systems: Editorial changes may further harmonise ISO 9001 with other standards, such as ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety).

It might also address several other critical areas such as:

• Resilience
• Supply chain management
• Change management
• Sustainability
• Organisational knowledge

The decision to revise the ISO 9001 standard earlier than usual stems from current changes in the business environment. Increasing complexity, dynamic markets, remote working, and new technologies necessitate these adjustments to ensure quality management systems remain effective. The next steps include the formation of working groups and the appointment of project managers to oversee the revision process.

ISO 9001:2026 Revision Planned Timeline

Prepare for the Transition to ISO 9001:2026 with a pre-audit assessment

At TÜV SÜD, we believe in the power of awareness and a proactive approach if you want to succeed in the evolving business landscape. Our expert team of quality management experts can help support your business needs so contact us to request a quote for a pre-audit assessment between the old and new versions of the standard.

We're committed to guiding you through these upcoming changes, ensuring your organisation is well-prepared to grow under the new ISO 9001:2026 standard.

Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn for more updates and insights as we approach the release of this significant standard revision.