Launched in 1987, ISO 9001 is the world’s leading quality management standard, with over one million organisations in 178 countries certified. It provides an evidence-based framework to help companies optimise day-to-day operations and plan for growth, with a focus on customer needs and continuous improvement. 

The standard investigates seven core aspects of business:

Organisations that are successful in achieving ISO 9001 accreditation must define their operations and demonstrate how essential functions – such as staff training, customer service and supply chain management – follow best practice. Measuring performance against quantifiable targets is a key requirement, as is a thorough evaluation of risk. Companies also have to evaluate the threat posed by events such as staff shortages, equipment failures or rising costs, and have plans in place to mitigate them.

The BSI is appointed by the UK Government as the national standards body (NSB) and represents UK interests at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the Europe Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI).