Sept. 16, 2026, Geneva — The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a new edition of ISO 9001, the world’s most widely used quality management system standard, marking the first major revision of the standard since 2015. In a Sept. 16 announcement, ISO said the updated ISO 9001:2026 standard is designed to help organizations respond to changing business conditions while maintaining the framework used by organizations around the world to manage quality. The organization said the revision places greater emphasis on leadership, quality culture and ethical behaviour, while providing greater clarity around risks and opportunities to support decision-making. ISO also said the new edition adopts the latest harmonized structure used across ISO management system standards, a change intended to make integration with other management systems easier. On its website, ISO said the 2026 edition includes targeted updates aimed at improving clarity and usability while keeping the standard relevant in an evolving business environment. The organization highlighted a stronger emphasis on quality culture and leadership, as well as the separation of risks and opportunities within quality management planning. Additional changes include updates related to organizational knowledge, management of change, communication during disruptions and oversight of externally provided processes. However, many core requirements remain substantively unchanged from the 2015 edition. ISO 9001 certification is widely used throughout the manufacturing sector as a framework for quality management and continual improvement. According to ISO, more than one million certificates have been issued under ISO 9001 in 189 countries, making it the most widely used quality management standard worldwide. ISO says the standard establishes requirements for organizations seeking to implement, maintain and continually improve quality management systems. In a statement, Sergio Mujica, secretary-general of ISO, said the revised standard reflects the need for organizations to adapt to changing markets and technologies while maintaining an internationally recognized framework for quality management. More information about the standard is available at ISO.org . Image Credit: 8Dflow.com