The evolution of ISO standards never stops, as they are living and dynamic standards, always in step with the times. It is no coincidence that they have undergone significant revisions several times over the years to meet the challenges imposed by globalisation and a rapidly changing environment. One example of this evolution is ISO 9001: the world’s best-known and most widespread international standard for quality management systems, which has been amended several times in the past, is undergoing another major revision. ‘The new edition, ISO 9001:2024, which will presumably be published in September 2026, will introduce highly innovative themes to respond to emerging global challenges in terms of digitalisation, artificial intelligence, climate change and information security management,’ says Manolo Valori, Technical Director of CVI Italia, the Italian branch of the Slovakian group CVI SRO, who, two months after his last interview, takes up a highly topical issue, examining in detail the expected changes to the standard.
by Roberta Imbimbo
Dr Valori, the revision of the IS0 90001:2015 standard aims to enable companies to proactively address the new challenges imposed by a rapidly changing environment. What will be the expected impact on the market?
ISO 9001, the international reference standard for quality management systems (QMS), is undoubtedly the most widely used standard in the world today, with more than one million certified companies and organisations in around 170 countries. Published for the first time in 1987 by the International Organisation for Standardisation, over the years the standard has undergone various revision, analysis and research processes that have led to the publication of the 1994, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008 and finally the 2015 edition, still in force today. Its next edition, due to be published in September 2026, will introduce highly innovative themes to enable companies to adapt to new developments in the market, technologies and organisational, social and environmental requirements. Containing substantial changes, it is expected to have a significant impact on the market: based on statistics from already certified companies, the change will impact approximately 100,000 companies in Italy and over 1,200,000 organisations worldwide.

ISO 9001:2024 will therefore introduce significant new features, which can be summarised in seven new strategic points. Can you tell us about them in more detail?
The updated version will further strengthen the Risk Based Approach (risk-based thinking) aimed at identifying and mitigating operational risks. Strengthening this Approach will involve a more thorough assessment of risks and opportunities, in order to improve the company’s ability to achieve its objectives and better meet customer needs, increasing the reliability and safety of its products and services. ISO 9001:2024 will also place greater emphasis on the role of leadership in promoting a quality culture. Managers will be called upon to demonstrate a more concrete commitment to supporting the QMS, ensuring that quality objectives are integrated into the corporate strategy and that the necessary resources are allocated appropriately. This change thus aims to build a quality culture rooted in the company’s strategic values.
One of the most important new features of the new edition is the HLS – High Level Structure – designed to facilitate integration with other management systems.
Exactly! With the aim of facilitating compatibility with other standards, such as ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, the new standard will adopt a High-Level Structure. This approach will enable organisations to develop a more coherent, streamlined and efficient integrated management system.
The new edition will place great emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility. This is a decisively innovative change from the past!
Sustainability and social responsibility will become key elements in ISO 9001:2024. Companies will be encouraged to consider the environmental and social impact of their activities, integrating sustainable practices into their operational processes so that their management systems are resilient and adaptable to new environmental challenges.
In the era of digital transformation, the standard will also inevitably focus on technological advancement and digitisation.
Technological advancement and digitisation of processes will be recognised as key success factors for organisations. The new standard will encourage the adoption of innovative technologies to improve operational efficiency, communication and information management within the QMS. More generally, ISO 9001:2024 will emphasise the importance of continuous improvement not only as a reaction to problems, but as proactivity in process and product innovation. Organisations will be stimulated to develop methods to anticipate future customer and market needs. Finally, greater attention will be paid to managing relations with stakeholders. Companies will have to identify and understand the needs and expectations of all stakeholders, i.e. customers, suppliers and stakeholders, in order to ensure a more holistic approach to quality.
How much time will organisations have to transpose the regulatory changes?
From the publication of the new edition, companies will have three years to align their management systems with the new requirements. This will obviously require a significant commitment, but at the same time it will offer companies the opportunity to improve their quality management systems, better meet customer needs and contribute positively to society and the environment. The implementation of the new guidelines will enable organisations of all sizes to increase their competitiveness in the global market. Obviously, it is essential to start preparing for these changes by training staff, updating processes and actively involving the leader-ship.