Edition update: ISO announced ISO 9001:2026 on 16 September 2026. A guide that presents the 2015 edition as the latest standard is now out of date. The publication announcement does not, by itself, tell you when your existing certificate must transition. Obtain that answer from your certification body. [S21]
Choose the right starting point
| Your position | Next useful action |
|---|---|
| Already certified to 2015 | Send the certificate number, scope, sites and next audit date to your certification body. Request its written transition instructions. |
| Implementing a system but not certified | Agree which edition the implementation work and eventual audit will address before buying templates. |
| A customer has requested certification | Ask which activities and locations the customer expects the certificate to cover, and by what contractual date. |
Turn the standard into an operating project
Begin with a short map of how an order becomes a delivered product or service. Identify the people who approve specifications, manage suppliers, check work and deal with complaints. A useful quality project improves those real handovers; it is not just a folder of policy documents.
- Choose a few problems worth measuring: repeat rework, unclear customer requirements or incomplete handovers.
- Record the present process and evidence. Do not invent historical meeting minutes, training records or inspection results.
- Assign each improvement an owner, an action and a way to check whether it worked.
- Compare the resulting system with the licensed standard and the agreed audit scope. This article is not a replacement for that assessment.
Separate preparation from certification
ISO develops standards; an external certification body makes the certification decision. Before accepting a quotation, check the proposed body's identity, relevant accreditation and the exact certificate scope. [S23] Ask for implementation support, certification audit charges, follow-up work and ongoing visits to be priced separately.
What should you receive at handover?
- The agreed scope and edition, including the sites and processes covered.
- A list of current documents, open findings and responsible people.
- The audit or transition plan supplied by the certification body.
- Instructions for checking the certificate and using any permitted mark.
Does the new edition make my old certificate invalid immediately?
Do not draw that conclusion from the publication date alone. Ask the issuer to confirm the status of your certificate and the transition arrangements that apply to it. Keep that response with your procurement and audit records.
Official references and their limits
- ISO: ISO 9001:2026 publication announcement ↗
Confirms publication on 16 September 2026. Does not establish a particular certificate's transition deadline, validity or audit outcome.
- ISO: Certification and accreditation explained ↗
Explains independent certification and verification routes; does not certify LIQUETAX or any particular certificate.
Older guidance must be read with subsequent changes. Reachability of a reference is not proof that it answers your particular case.
Prepare your next step
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