ISO 9001 is a widely recognised standard for quality management systems (QMS) across the globe. It systematically improves customer satisfaction by identifying and meeting their needs while promoting continuous organisational improvement.
ISO 9001 certification is a mark of excellence demonstrating an organisation’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. This article will provide a glossary of ISO 9001 terms commonly used during an ISO audit.
Must-Know Terms During ISO 9001 Accreditation
ISO 9001 is an internationally accepted quality management system (QMS) standard. Organisations use standards and guidelines to guarantee that their goods and services satisfy customer expectations and adhere to relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
As an organisation embarks on a journey to achieve ISO 9001 accreditation, there are certain terms they must become familiar with to understand the process. Here are some of the must-know terms during ISO 9001 accreditation:
Audit
A systematic, independent, and documented procedure known as an audit involves gathering unbiased information and reviewing it to ascertain the degree to which the audit criteria are met. An organisation or a third-party certification authority can perform an audit, which can be internal or external.
Audit Criteria
Audit criteria are the policies, procedures, and requirements against which an audit is conducted. Audit criteria can be internal or external, and they are established based on the scope of the audit.
Audit Finding
An audit finding results from an audit that indicates either conformity or nonconformity with the audit criteria. Audit findings can be of different types, including significant dissent, minor heterodoxy, and observation.
Audit Report
A written report summarising the findings of an audit is known as an audit report. The details cover the audit’s goals, parameters, evaluation standards, outcomes, and suggestions.
Certification
According to certification, an organisation’s quality management system meets the ISO 9001 standard. Certification is conducted by a third-party certification body, which issues a certificate to the organisation if it meets the standard’s requirements.
Conformity
The level to which an organisation’s quality management system complies with the standards of the ISO 9001 standard is known as conformity.
Continuous improvement
Continuous improvement is a fundamental principle of the ISO 9001 standard. It refers to the ongoing effort to improve an organisation’s products, services, and processes by identifying and eliminating nonconformities and implementing new practices.
Corrective Action
Corrective action is identifying and eliminating the root cause of nonconformities in an organisation’s quality management system. Disciplinary action is taken to prevent the recurrence of non-conformities.
Management Review
Management review is a process of evaluating an organisation’s quality management system by senior management. Management review aims to ensure the quality management system’s effectiveness and efficiency and identify improvement opportunities.
Nonconformity
Nonconformity refers to a situation where an organisation’s quality management system does not meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard. Nonconformities can be of different types, including significant nonconformity, minor nonconformity, and observation.
Observation
An observation result from an audit indicates an area of the quality management system that could be improved but does not constitute a nonconformity.
Preventive Action
Preventive action identifies and eliminates the root cause of potential nonconformities in an organisation’s quality management system. To avoid nonconformities, preventative measures are implemented.
Quality Management System (QMS)
A quality management system is a collection of guidelines, instructions, and standards for organising, putting into practice, and evaluating an organisation’s quality management activities. The QMS ensures that a company’s goods and services fulfil the needs and expectations of its clients.
Quality Policy
A quality policy is a written statement of an organisation’s commitment to quality. The quality policy includes the organisation’s objectives for quality, its commitment to meeting customer requirements, and its commitment to continuous improvement.
Scope
The scope of an audit refers to the extent to which the audit criteria apply. The organisation or the auditor can define the content of an audit.
Senior Management
Senior management refers to the highest level of control within an organisation. Senior management is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction and ensuring the quality management system is effective and efficient.
Third-Party Certification Body
A third-party certification body is an independent organisation that provides certification services to organisations. The third-party certification body verifies that an organisation’s quality management system meets the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard and issues a certificate if the organisation meets the requirements.
Conclusion
ISO 9001 is a well-recognised standard for quality management systems. Auditors use phrases specific to the ISO 9001 standard during an ISO audit. This glossary defines the terms that are most frequently used when conducting an audit.
Understanding these terms is essential for organisations seeking ISO 9001 certification and auditors conducting ISO 9001 audits. By using this glossary, organisations can improve their understanding of the ISO 9001 standard and enhance their ability to implement and maintain an effective quality management system.
ISO 9001 Consultants is Australia’s leading ISO standards consulting organisation. As ISO consultants, we are specialists in developing and implementing management systems aligned with international standards in Australia. Contact us if you need an ISO 9001 accreditation in Australia!
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