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What You Need to Know About the ISO 9001:2026 Revision

  • Auditing and Compliance, ISO
ISO 9001:2026

ISO 9001:2026 Revision

The international standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS), ISO 9001, is set to undergo a significant revision in 2026. While this update won’t completely overhaul the standard, it introduces key refinements to ensure its continued relevance in a rapidly changing business environment. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the confirmed changes, the publication timeline, and practical steps your organization can take to prepare.

Publication Timeline and Transition Period

The revision process has already begun. The Draft International Standard (DIS) was made available for public review in mid-2025. The final version of ISO 9001:2026 is anticipated to be published in September 2026.

Following the publication, a transition period of approximately three years is expected. This gives organizations until late 2029 to align their systems with the new standard. Planning for this transition now can help your business avoid a last-minute scramble.

Confirmed Updates in ISO 9001:2026

The upcoming revision includes several notable changes designed to enhance the standard’s effectiveness.

  1. Integration of the 2024 Climate Amendment

The climate change requirements, which were added as a separate amendment in February 2024 (Clauses 4.1 and 4.2), will now be fully integrated into the main text of the standard.

  1. Strengthened Focus on Quality Culture and Ethical Behavior

The new standard places a greater emphasis on cultivating a strong quality culture and fostering ethical conduct. These themes are explicitly addressed in several key areas:

  • Leadership and Commitment (Clause 5.1): Top management must demonstrate a commitment to these values.
  • Operational Environment (Clause 7.1.4): The standard will emphasize the importance of a supportive work environment.
  • Awareness (Clause 7.3): Organizations must ensure employees are aware of how their actions contribute to quality and ethical practices.
  1. Enhanced Change Management (Clause 6.3)

To better handle organizational changes, the new standard introduces more structured requirements for planning changes. This includes considering the availability of resources, monitoring the effectiveness of the change, and ensuring clear communication.

  1. Infrastructure for Remote and Hybrid Work (Clause 7.1.3)

Recognizing the modern workforce, ISO 9001:2026 will now explicitly require organizations to consider remote and hybrid work environments when planning their infrastructure.

  1. Revised Structure in Clause 10 (Improvement)

The standard will more clearly delineate the concepts of improvement:

  • Continual Improvement (10.1): This clause will encompass incremental improvements, innovation, or reorganization.
  • Nonconformity and Corrective Action (10.2): This will be more clearly defined to ensure a systematic approach to addressing issues.
  1. Improved Usability and Guidance (Annex A)

Annex A will be expanded with additional guidance correlated to Clauses 4-10, making the standard more user-friendly and easier to implement.

  1. Alignment with Annex SL

The updated standard will continue to adhere to the high-level Annex SL structure. This consistency facilitates integration with other management system standards, such as ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.

  1. Broader Emphasis Areas

The revision also highlights several evolving themes, including digital transformation, supply chain resilience, and a proactive, risk-based thinking approach. There will also be an expanded focus on customer satisfaction and overall experience.

Why These Updates Matter

These revisions, while not revolutionary, are critical. They reflect significant global shifts in areas like climate change, digitalization, and the nature of work. By addressing these modern challenges, the ISO 9001:2026 update ensures the standard remains a relevant and powerful tool for quality management, helping organizations become more resilient and future-proof.

A Road-map for Proactive Preparation

Preparing for the ISO 9001:2026 revision now can give your organization a significant advantage. Follow this practical roadmap to ensure a smooth transition.

  1. Integrate the 2024 Climate Amendment: If you haven’t already, review and incorporate the climate change requirements into your QMS.
  2. Conduct a Gap Assessment: Proactively assess your current system against the confirmed changes. Pay close attention to your digital readiness, supply chain controls, and risk management processes.
  3. Strengthen Your Change Management Protocols: Review your current procedures for managing change and add clarity around planning, communication, and evaluation.
  4. Embed a Quality Culture: Reinforce the importance of quality and ethics in leadership, employee training, and internal communications.
  5. Address Hybrid and Remote Work: Ensure your QMS accounts for the unique infrastructure and communication needs of remote and hybrid teams.
  6. Enhance Supplier Resilience: Broaden your supplier evaluations to include resilience planning, second-source strategies, and recovery timelines.
  7. Leverage Digital Tools: Explore digital solutions for automated audits, KPI reporting, and document management to streamline your QMS.
  8. Draft a Transition Timeline: Create a detailed plan with milestones for updating procedures, training staff, conducting internal audits, and achieving recertification well before the 2029 deadline.

By taking these steps, you can ensure your organization is not just compliant but also positioned for sustained success in the evolving business landscape.