In the 1970s, a quality management system was invented to improve the quality and efficiency of products and processes throughout major companies and organizations. The British Standard Institution (BSI) introduced the first quality standard, BS 9000 (1971), for the electronic industry. Later, it was followed by the BS 5179 and BS5750 standards in 1979, according to the Ministry of Defence’s standards of supplier quality assurance.u
The ISO 9000 family, introduced in 1987, was based on BSI standards. The goal of the ISO family of quality management standards was to provide an organization with requirements to develop a Quality Management System (QMS) for a variety of different business activities.
Introduction Of The ISO 9000 Family (1987)
The ISO 9000 family, introduced in 1987, was based on BSI standards. ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003 were developed to help different types of businesses achieve certification.
ISO 9001:1987
When ISO was launched in 1987, it was heavily influenced by the US Defence Standard (MIL SPECS). The main clause in the ISO 1994 revised version was quality assurance by preventive actions rather than final inspection, with documented evidence of compliance.
ISO 9002:1987
Upon its release, ISO 9002 focused mainly on manufacturers who didn’t design products, similar to Foxconn’s role for Apple. It is identical to ISO 9001 in all aspects except that it does not have any guidelines for design control, making it ideal for third-party manufacturers. This highlights a key distinction in ISO 9001 vs ISO 9002.
ISO 9003:1987
ISO 9003 was similar to ISO 9002, except it didn’t include design control, process control, purchasing, or servicing. ISO 9003 mainly focused on inspection and testing. It was utilized mostly by resellers and warehouses, which purchased or stored third-party products without involvement in design. They used this certification to gain customer confidence that their stored products met quality standards.
Major Overhaul — ISO 9001:2000
In 2000, ISO 9001 merged the three standards (ISO 9001, ISO 9002, and ISO 9003) into a single model. The sole reason for this merger was to increase emphasis on quality across all processes, which was essential for the standard to keep pace with the evolution of businesses.
The merged ISO 9001:2000 emphasized quality and increased active involvement from management to ensure that quality remains consistent among all processes and meets customer demands. A strong emphasis on viewing activities as interlinked processes helped improve overall efficiency and effectiveness. The need for continual improvement was highlighted, requiring organizations to establish performance metrics to assess and improve quality control.
This change helped transition from a procedural focus to a process-oriented approach, enabling more flexibility in documentation and promoting ISO certification benefits for organizations that aimed to improve their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Refinement And Emphasis On Risk (ISO 9001:2008)
With the ISO 9001 evolution, it improved consistency with other ISO standards, streamlining terminology and enhancing compatibility. Minor adjustments were made to emphasize the importance of measuring and monitoring processes for continual improvement. This refinement simplified implementation for organizations already compliant with the 2000 version.
Modernized And Risk-Based Approach (ISO 9001:2015)
Modern management techniques and the changing business environment are reflected in ISO 9001:2015. The proactive approach is emphasized in this edition, which mandates that the organization’s quality management process include identifying and addressing opportunities and hazards.
By using the high-level structure (HLS), ISO 9001 is brought into line with other standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 27001, which facilitates the smooth integration of various systems. Important new areas of focus include:
- Organizational context: Examining both internal and external elements to align quality management with strategic goals.
- Interest-related needs and expectations: Recognising stakeholder needs to improve results.
- Organizational knowledge: Knowledge management to promote innovation and guarantee consistency.
- Post-delivery activities: Taking care of obligations that go beyond providing a good or service.
- Change control: Maintaining the integrity of the process while making modifications.
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ISO 9001 is evolving to include big-picture goals like sustainability, ESG, and data-driven decision-making—making it more relevant than ever for modern businesses. Whether you’re looking to understand the history of ISO standards, the differences between ISO 9001 and 9002, or the benefits of certification, we’ve got the resources and expertise to guide you every step of the way. Let us help you achieve certification and take your quality management to the next level.