The upcoming ISO 9001:2026 revision is anticipated to introduce significant enhancements, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of modern quality management. Building on the existing framework, the update will place greater emphasis on risk management, supply chain oversight, digital transformation, and sustainability, while also integrating stakeholder engagement, ethics, and alignment with other management systems such as ISO 14001.

Below is an in-depth exploration of the expected changes:

1. Enhanced Risk Management

The revised standard will strengthen the risk-based approach, requiring organisations to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks across operations. This may involve adopting methodologies from AS9100 (the aerospace industry’s quality management standard) to ensure more rigorous risk controls.

2. Supply Chain Oversight

Organisations will need to deepen their scrutiny of supplier quality and ethical practices, ensuring that supply chain partners align with their own standards. This includes assessing supplier impacts on product/service quality and implementing stronger vendor management protocols.

3. Digital Transformation & Emerging Technologies

The update will encourage the adoption of digital tools, including:

  • AI & Automation (for process optimisation)IoT (Internet of Things) (for real-time monitoring)Cloud-based systems (for data accessibility and security Additionally, there will be a stronger focus on digital record-keeping, data integrity, and cybersecurity considerations.
  • Sustainability & ESG Integration

ISO 9001:2026 will explicitly link quality management with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, promoting:

  • Lifecycle assessment of products/services
  • Responsible sourcing practices
  • Reduction of environmental footprints

5. Stakeholder Engagement

Organisations will be expected to broaden their engagement with stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, regulators, and local communities, ensuring their needs and expectations are systematically addressed.

6. Ethics & Integrity in Leadership

The revision will embed ethical conduct and integrity as fundamental leadership requirements, reinforcing trust and accountability in quality management systems.

7. Harmonisation with Other Management Systems

To streamline compliance, the standard will improve alignment with:

  • ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
  • ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety)
    This will facilitate integrated management systems (IMS) for organisations pursuing multiple certifications.

8. Organisational Knowledge Management

The update will reinforce the need to capture, retain, and leverage institutional knowledge, ensuring business continuity and mitigating risks associated with workforce turnover.

9. Structured Change Management

A stronger emphasis will be placed on planned change management, requiring organisations to:

  • Pre-assess impacts of changes
  • Monitor progress during transitions
  • Ensure minimal disruption to quality processes

10. Climate Change & Extended Sustainability Focus

Beyond general sustainability, the standard will explicitly address climate-related risks, urging organisations

to consider resilience and adaptation strategies in their quality planning.