ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)

The most widely used management systems standard worldwide, serving as the international reference for Quality Management System Certification.
Foundation: 1994
Sector: General

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Objective

One of the most frequent, important, and useful certifications in the Textile and Apparel Industry (TAI) is ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System, which relates to quality and falls under management system certifications.

The main objective is to provide recognition, by an external and independent entity, that the organization ensures the conformity of its products, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

Currently, it is noticeable that the market is increasingly competitive, internationalized, and responsive to all customer requirements. Without meeting these, trade cannot exist, which is why their demands are increasingly taken into account. The desire to please and attract customers requires demonstrating high quality, and thus the level of requirement is continuously rising.

The quality management system (QMS) certification, according to ISO 9001, is the recognition by an external and independent entity that the organization ensures the conformity of its products and/or services, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement (NP EN ISO 9001:2008).

ISO 9001, the international reference for Quality Management System certification, establishes requirements that allow for the continuous improvement of internal processes and the QMS. Additionally, the standard imposes control methodologies to ensure that quality management is not a mere isolated exercise, but a planned activity to be followed daily by all employees of an organization. This management model has evolved to develop a process-based approach, with a customer focus, aiming to meet their needs and expectations as well as those of other stakeholders, while continuously improving overall performance.

ISO 9001 is based on the eight quality management principles defined in ISO 9000:2005 – Quality Management Systems – Fundamentals and Vocabulary (NP EN ISO 9000:2005):

Customer Focus
Leadership
People Involvement
Process Approach
System Approach to Management
Continuous Improvement
Fact-Based Decision Making
Mutually Beneficial Supplier Relationships

The certification is valid for three years. Annual follow-up audits and recertification audits at the end of the three-year period are conducted to ensure that the system continues to comply with the requirements of the reference standard.