The world’s most recognized quality management standard is evolving — but with a slight delay. Originally expected in 2025, the new revision is now scheduled for 2026. The decision came after the ISO/TC 176 committee issued a second committee draft (CD2) to refine structural and content challenges.
This upcoming revision is not just a routine update — it represents a major shift toward resilience, sustainability, and digital agility, ensuring ISO 9001 remains future-ready in a rapidly changing world.
What’s New in ISO 9001:2026?
The 2026 update strengthens quality management by embedding climate considerations, digitalization, and resilience into core processes. Here are the key changes you can expect compared to ISO 9001:2015:
1️⃣ Resilience & Supply Chain Management
- Stronger requirements to withstand disruptions and reinforce supply chain stability.
- Greater emphasis on outsourced providers, SaaS controls, and digital suppliers.
- Assurance of validated software-enabled processes and secure delivery.
2️⃣ Sustainability & Climate Considerations
- Mandatory consideration of climate change impacts (aligned with the 2024 climate amendment).
- Integration of sustainability, ethics, and stakeholder expectations into QMS processes.
- Clearer accountability for environmental and social responsibility.
3️⃣ Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0
- Provisions for AI, IoT, big data, and cybersecurity within quality management systems.
- Expanded focus on digital competence, IT/data infrastructure, and knowledge management.
- Use of real-time dashboards, analytics, and digital evidence in decision-making.
4️⃣ Leadership & Culture
- Stronger focus on ethical leadership, accountability, and empowerment.
- Traceable behaviors and communication across leadership roles.
- Reinforcement of quality culture, employee involvement, and KPI-driven performance.
5️⃣ Risk & Opportunity Management
- Clearer distinction between risks and opportunities.
- Stronger linkage to digital resilience and climate-related risks.
- Evidence-based monitoring and preventive measures.
6️⃣ Alignment with Other Standards
- Transition from the current High-Level Structure (HLS) to the Harmonized Structure (HS).
- Better alignment with ISO 14001 (environmental management), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and other key standards.
7️⃣ Performance Evaluation & Improvement
- Data-driven evaluation with emphasis on dashboards, real-time measures, and transparent reporting.
- Stronger requirements for root cause analysis and CAPA effectiveness.
- Expanded focus on organizational learning, competence, and digital skills.
Why This Revision Matters
The ISO 9001:2026 update ensures that quality management systems (QMS) remain relevant, resilient, and future-proof in the face of global challenges. It embeds sustainability, embraces digital transformation, and reinforces supply chain resilience — preparing organizations for a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world.
By adopting these changes, businesses can:
- Stay compliant with evolving regulatory and stakeholder demands.
- Strengthen supply chain resilience and reduce vulnerabilities.
- Build a culture of sustainability, ethics, and accountability.
- Harness digital tools for smarter, faster, and more accurate decision-making.
ISO 9001:2015 vs ISO 9001:2026 – Key Differences
| Clause / Area | ISO 9001:2015 | ISO 9001:2026 (Expected Updates) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 / 4.2 Context & Interested Parties | Consideration of internal/external issues, interested parties, and their requirements. | Mandatory climate change consideration (Amendment 1:2024). Explicit reference to sustainability, digitalization, resilience, and stakeholder expectations. |
| 5. Leadership | Leadership commitment, quality policy, customer focus. | Stronger emphasis on quality culture & ethical leadership. Traceable behaviors, accountability, empowerment, KPIs, and measurable results. |
| 6. Planning | Risk & opportunity management with less explicit separation. | Clearer distinction between risks vs. opportunities. Stronger linkage to digital resilience & climate-related risks. Evidence of monitoring & preventive action. |
| 7. Support | Focus on competence, awareness, documentation, and infrastructure. | Expanded to cover digital competence, knowledge management, IT/data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and data integrity. |
| 8. Operation | Control of external providers and processes. Requirements for products & services. | Tighter supplier/outsourced/SaaS controls. Proportionate assurance for digital suppliers. Greater focus on software-enabled processes & secure delivery. |
| 9. Performance Evaluation | Monitoring, measurement, internal audits, management review. | Emphasis on data-driven evaluation. Dashboards, analytics, and real-time measures. Clearer demonstration of effectiveness. |
| 10. Improvement | Focus on nonconformities, corrective action, and continual improvement. | Reinforced root cause analysis & CAPA effectiveness. Stronger focus on organizational learning, competence, and digital skills. |
How Organizations Can Prepare for ISO 9001:2026
Forward-looking organizations can start preparing now to ensure a smooth transition when the revision is published. Practical steps include:
✅ Address the 2024 climate amendment gap — update processes to cover climate-related risks.
✅ Review Clause 4.1 and 4.2 — assess context, risks, opportunities, and stakeholder needs with a future-focused lens.
✅ Conduct a transition gap assessment — evaluate current QMS maturity against expected ISO 9001:2026 requirements.
✅ Strengthen internal audits — expand audits to include climate, sustainability, digital competence, and resilience.
✅ Focus on digitalization — prepare IT/data infrastructure, cybersecurity, and analytics capabilities.
✅ Promote cultural change — empower leadership, reinforce accountability, and enhance employee competence.
Beyond Compliance
The upcoming ISO 9001:2026 revision is more than a compliance exercise — it’s about building a quality management system that thrives in an era of disruption. Organizations that embrace these changes early will not only ensure compliance but also gain a competitive edge in sustainability, digital agility, and customer trust.
What change do you think will have the biggest impact — sustainability, digitalization, or resilience? Let’s discuss in the comments below!