Compare ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026
The comparison between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026 is becoming increasingly important for certified organisations. ISO 9001:2015 remains the current published standard, while ISO/FDIS 9001 represents the Final Draft International Standard for the forthcoming edition.
The revision is expected to replace ISO 9001:2015 in September 2026. However, organisations should avoid treating draft-stage information as a final certification requirement until the new edition is officially published.
What Is ISO 9001:2015?
ISO 9001:2015 specifies requirements for a Quality Management System. It helps organisations consistently provide products and services that meet customer, statutory, and regulatory requirements.
The standard is built around a process-based approach and includes requirements relating to:
- Organisational context
- Leadership and accountability
- Risk and opportunity management
- Quality objectives
- Resources and competence
- Operational controls
- Performance evaluation
- Continual improvement
ISO 9001:2015 remains valid until the revised edition is formally published and the applicable transition arrangements are communicated.
What Is ISO 9001:2026?
ISO 9001:2026 is the expected next edition of the quality management standard. At present, the official document is referred to as ISO/FDIS 9001 because it has reached the Final Draft International Standard stage.
ISO released the FDIS for a yes or no ballot, which closed on 9 July 2026. Publication is expected in September 2026, subject to the completion of the ISO approval process.
The revision aims to keep ISO 9001 relevant to modern business needs, emerging trends, changing stakeholder expectations, and the evolving operating environment.
ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026: What Will Remain?
The fundamental purpose of ISO 9001 is not expected to change. Organisations will still need to demonstrate that their Quality Management Systems support consistent products and services, customer satisfaction, effective processes, and continual improvement.
The core structure of the management system is also expected to remain unchanged. Therefore, organisations should not assume that they must completely rebuild their existing systems.
Effective processes, controls, records, and performance measures should be reviewed before they are replaced.
What May Require Greater Attention?
The final wording must be confirmed when the standard is published. However, the revision process has considered emerging technologies, modern business conditions, the harmonised structure used across ISO management system standards, and requests for clarification received from users.
Organisations should be prepared to review areas such as:
- The effect of emerging technologies on quality processes
- Changing customer and stakeholder expectations
- Leadership involvement in quality performance
- Organisational knowledge and competence
- Risk and opportunity management
- Business changes and operational resilience
- The alignment of quality objectives with strategic priorities
These areas should not be added to procedures simply to satisfy a checklist. They must be connected to actual responsibilities, decisions, controls, and records.
Should Organisations Start Making Changes?
Organisations can begin preparing, but they should avoid making major system changes based only on speculation.
A sensible preparation process includes:
- Reviewing the performance of the existing Quality Management System.
- Removing outdated or duplicated documents.
- Confirming that process owners understand their responsibilities.
- Closing existing internal and external audit findings.
- Reviewing risks, opportunities, objectives, and customer feedback.
- Monitoring official ISO and certification body announcements.
- Planning a formal gap assessment after publication.
This approach strengthens the current system while reducing the risk of unnecessary rework.
How Will Certification Be Affected?
Organisations certified to ISO 9001:2015 will not be expected to transition immediately on the publication date. A formal transition period and certification guidance will need to be communicated by the relevant accreditation and certification bodies.
Certified organisations should engage with their certification bodies once the transition arrangements have been confirmed. ISO develops the standard, but certification is conducted by independent certification bodies.
Prepare for the ISO 9001 Revision
The comparison between ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 9001:2026 should be approached carefully. The new edition is intended to update the standard, not to make every existing Quality Management System obsolete.
WWISE can assist organisations with transition awareness, gap assessments, ISO implementation, internal audits, document reviews, and certification readiness. Begin preparing your Quality Management System now, but base formal changes on the final published requirements.
