ISO 9001:2026 Is Coming – What Organizations Need to Know Now

The new edition of the ISO 9001 standard is in its final publication stages and is expected to be released in September 2026. What does this mean for organizations already working to ISO 9001:2015 – and what should be done now?

ISO 9001 is one of the world's leading quality management system standards, and the current edition, ISO 9001:2015, has been guiding organizations for over a decade.

The new edition – ISO 9001:2026 – is now nearing publication.

For organizations already certified to the standard, this is not just an update to follow. It is also an excellent opportunity to pause and examine how effective the existing quality management system truly is and how well it serves the organization's needs.

Should You Start Changing Your Quality System Now?

No.

As long as the final edition has not been published, making changes based only on assumptions about the new wording is not recommended.

However, it is definitely worth starting to prepare.

And preparation does not have to begin with changing procedures.

It can start with a simple question:

How well does our quality management system actually work for the organization?

5 Things Worth Checking Today

1. The Connection Between Quality and Business Goals

Are your quality objectives connected to the organization's strategic goals?

An effective quality system is not a parallel system to business activity – it is part of it.

Check whether the metrics and objectives you manage support decision-making and create real value for the organization and its customers.

2. Leadership and Management Involvement

Quality cannot be the responsibility of the quality manager alone.

Ask yourselves:

If the quality manager were absent for a week – would the quality system continue to operate with the same effectiveness?

Management involvement is one of the key conditions for turning the quality system into part of the organizational culture.

3. Risk and Opportunity Management

Is your risk management a decision-making tool – or a table opened only before an audit?

Check whether risks and opportunities are actually integrated into planning, projects, processes and decision-making.

4. Process Effectiveness

A documented process is not necessarily an effective process.

Procedures, forms and records are means – not the goal.

The key question is whether the process achieves its intended result, whether relevant metrics exist, and whether trends and deviations can be identified in time.

5. Continuous Improvement

When was the last time a change you made to the quality system led to a measurable improvement?

Customer complaints, failures, audits, data and employee suggestions can be meaningful sources for improvement – provided the organization knows how to turn them into actions and examine their effectiveness.

What to Expect After ISO 9001:2026 Is Published?

Once the final edition is published, a structured analysis of the changes and gaps against the existing quality system can be carried out.

Organizations currently certified to ISO 9001:2015 are expected to receive a transition period to adapt their quality management system to the new edition.

So there is no need to panic – but it is definitely worth being prepared.

Our Recommendation: Don't Wait for the Standard's Publication to Review Your Quality System

Proper preparation does not begin with rewriting procedures.

It begins with understanding the current state:

What works well? Where are the gaps? Which processes are not effective enough? And does the quality system truly help the organization improve?

An organization that does this work now will approach the transition to ISO 9001:2026 from a significantly better starting point.

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Preparing for ISO 9001:2026?

ALD Advanced Solutions supports organizations in building, implementing and improving quality management systems, writing procedures, performing Gap Analysis, training and certification preparation.

Once the final edition is published, we will continue to update on the changes, transition requirements and practical implications for organizations.

Want to assess your quality system's readiness? Talk to us.

ALD Advanced Solutions – Quality that moves you forward.