{"id":72641,"date":"2026-08-28T09:51:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T12:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/?post_type=articles&#038;p=72641"},"modified":"2026-08-28T09:51:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T12:51:00","slug":"iso-9001-quality-management-system","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/content\/technical-articles\/iso-9001-quality-management-system\/","title":{"rendered":"ISO 9001: What It Is, Requirements and Quality Management System Structure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 is the international standard that defines requirements for a quality management system (QMS). It establishes how an organization should structure processes, responsibilities, controls, evidence, performance evaluation and improvement to consistently deliver products and services and meet applicable requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Engineering, its application goes beyond certification: the QMS connects technical requirements, design review, document control, suppliers, inspections, nonconformities, audits and acceptance. The standard does not prescribe a single procedure; it requires the organization to determine and control processes appropriate to its context, risks and the characteristics of its deliverables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What ISO 9001 is<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 is the standard that establishes the <strong>requirements for a quality management system (QMS)<\/strong>. A QMS is the set of processes, responsibilities and controls an organization uses to consistently deliver products and services that meet customer requirements and applicable legal requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Brazil, the standard is adopted by ABNT as <strong>ABNT NBR ISO 9001:2015<\/strong> \u2014 an identical adoption of ISO 9001:2015. Its requirements are <strong>generic<\/strong> and intentionally applicable to any organization, regardless of size, sector or type of product or service. This is why the same standard can serve both an industrial company and a consulting engineering firm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ISO 9001, ISO 9000 and ISO 9004: what each one is<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is common to confuse the three standards in the family. The distinction is simple and important:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>ISO 9000<\/strong> \u2014 provides the <strong>fundamentals and vocabulary<\/strong> of quality management. It describes the seven quality management principles and the definitions used by the family.<\/li><li><strong>ISO 9001<\/strong> \u2014 provides the <strong>requirements<\/strong> for the quality management system. It is the <strong>only<\/strong> standard in the family eligible for <strong>certification<\/strong>, because it contains auditable requirements.<\/li><li><strong>ISO 9004<\/strong> \u2014 provides <strong>guidelines<\/strong> for organizations that decide to go <strong>beyond<\/strong> 9001 requirements in pursuit of sustained success. It is not certifiable.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice: ISO 9000 provides the language, ISO 9001 states what is mandatory, and ISO 9004 guides organizations that want to mature their system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What it is for and its benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The standard itself treats the adoption of a QMS as a <strong>strategic decision<\/strong>. Among the potential benefits it lists are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>the ability to <strong>consistently<\/strong> provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements;<\/li><li>opportunities to <strong>enhance customer satisfaction<\/strong>;<\/li><li>the ability to <strong>address risks and opportunities<\/strong> associated with the organization\u2019s context and objectives;<\/li><li>the ability to <strong>demonstrate conformity<\/strong> with specified quality management system requirements.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For an engineering company, this translates into predictable deliverables, less rework and organized evidence \u2014 supporting both the client relationship and the technical defense in case of questions or disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 7 quality management principles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The principles underpinning the standard are described in ISO 9000 and referenced by ISO 9001. There are seven:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Customer focus<\/strong> \u2014 meet and, where possible, exceed customer requirements and expectations.<\/li><li><strong>Leadership<\/strong> \u2014 top management establishes purpose, direction and the conditions for people to engage.<\/li><li><strong>Engagement of people<\/strong> \u2014 competent and engaged people at all levels strengthen the organization\u2019s ability to create value.<\/li><li><strong>Process approach<\/strong> \u2014 consistent results are achieved when activities are understood and managed as interrelated processes.<\/li><li><strong>Improvement<\/strong> \u2014 successful organizations maintain an ongoing focus on improvement.<\/li><li><strong>Evidence-based decision making<\/strong> \u2014 decisions supported by analysis of data and information are more likely to produce desired results.<\/li><li><strong>Relationship management<\/strong> \u2014 managing relationships with relevant interested parties supports performance.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Process approach, PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-a3a-destaque\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From concept to operation.<\/strong> The process approach only creates value when the organization maps and controls its actual processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how to structure this in <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-de-processos-o-que-e-etapas-engenharia\/\">Process Management in Engineering Companies<\/a> and in the article on <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/mapeamento-de-processos-as-is-to-be-engenharia\/\">AS-IS and TO-BE process mapping<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 is organized around three connected ideas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Process approach.<\/strong> Instead of treating tasks in isolation, the organization understands its activities as <strong>processes<\/strong> with inputs, outputs and interactions \u2014 each adding value to the preceding one. Managing the system as a whole makes performance more predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>PDCA cycle.<\/strong> The standard applies the <strong>Plan-Do-Check-Act<\/strong> cycle both to each process and to the QMS as a whole: plan objectives and resources, execute what was planned, monitor and measure results, and act to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Risk-based thinking.<\/strong> The standard requires the organization to plan and implement actions to <strong>address risks and opportunities<\/strong>. This is not a formal risk management process, but a preventive mindset embedded in processes. Organizations that already practice formal risk management, for example under NBR ISO 31000, tend to meet this point naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The structure of ISO 9001:2015 \u2014 clauses 4 to 10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The requirements section runs from clauses 4 to 10. They follow the <strong>High-Level Structure<\/strong> common to ISO management system standards, which facilitates integration of 9001 with other standards. In summary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Clause<\/td><td>What it covers (summary)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4. Context of the organization<\/td><td>Understand the organization, its context and interested parties, and define the scope and processes of the QMS.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>5. Leadership<\/td><td>Top-management commitment, quality policy and definition of roles and responsibilities.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>6. Planning<\/td><td>Actions to address risks and opportunities, quality objectives and planning of changes.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>7. Support<\/td><td>Resources, competence, awareness, communication and documented information.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>8. Operation<\/td><td>Operational planning and control, product and service requirements, design and development, external providers and production.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>9. Performance evaluation<\/td><td>Monitoring and measurement, customer satisfaction, internal audit and management review.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>10. Improvement<\/td><td>Treatment of nonconformities, corrective action and continual improvement.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When reading the standard, it is useful to remember its language convention: <strong>&quot;shall&quot;<\/strong> indicates a mandatory <strong>requirement<\/strong>; <strong>&quot;should&quot;<\/strong> indicates a <strong>recommendation<\/strong>; and <strong>&quot;may&quot;<\/strong> indicates permission or possibility. In an audit, what is stated as &quot;shall&quot; needs to be evidenced \u2014 distinguishing these terms avoids both excessive bureaucracy and conformity gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to implement ISO 9001 in practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no single formula, but a typical path helps organize the effort:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Understand the context and interested parties<\/strong> (clause 4) and define the <strong>scope<\/strong> of the QMS.<\/li><li><strong>Establish the quality policy and quality objectives<\/strong> and responsibilities (clauses 5 and 6).<\/li><li><strong>Map the processes<\/strong> and their interactions, identifying inputs, outputs and controls.<\/li><li><strong>Define the documented information<\/strong> required \u2014 only what adds control, not paperwork for its own sake (clause 7.5).<\/li><li><strong>Operate<\/strong> the processes and record the evidence (clause 8).<\/li><li><strong>Monitor, measure and audit<\/strong> internally; take the results to management review (clause 9).<\/li><li><strong>Treat nonconformities and improve<\/strong> continually (clause 10).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In engineering companies, much of this effort depends on process and document discipline. The <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/governanca-documental-sistema-gestao-documentos\/\">Document Governance and Document Management System solution<\/a> directly addresses the documented-information requirement.<\/p>\n<p>Practical implementation starts by defining the processes that actually produce value and evidence. In engineering, this means seeing the entire chain: requirements gathering, design development and review, approvals, procurement, manufacturing, inspections, execution, testing, commissioning, acceptance and document handover. For each process, inputs, responsible parties, control criteria, expected outputs and records capable of demonstrating the result must be defined. ISO 9001 does not require every activity to generate a form; it requires the organization to determine the information needed to ensure system effectiveness and demonstrate that requirements have been met.<\/p>\n<p>This reasoning changes how clause 7.5 is applied. Instead of producing documentation out of habit, the organization must decide which documents and records are indispensable for controlling risk, traceability and acceptance. In an engineering project, this may include master document registers, review comments, decision minutes, design reports, approved drawings, inspection records, material certificates, test reports, NCRs and closure evidence. <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/gestao-eletronica-de-documentos-tecnicos\/\">engineering document management<\/a> therefore ceases to be merely administrative support and becomes part of the quality system itself: identification, review, approval, distribution, version control, preservation and retrieval must be performed in a controlled manner.<\/p>\n<p>Clause 7.1.5 is especially relevant when conformity depends on monitoring or measurement. Instruments used in inspections, tests and commissioning must be suitable for the required quantity and accuracy. When measurement traceability is required, the organization must ensure calibration or verification against appropriate references, identify the status of the equipment and protect it against conditions that could invalidate results. In practical terms, attaching a calibration certificate to a report is not enough: it is necessary to confirm that the instrument was valid on the test date, that its range and resolution were compatible with the acceptance criterion and that any equipment deviations do not cast doubt on results already produced.<\/p>\n<p>In design processes, clause 8.3 brings the QMS close to the engineering discipline itself. Inputs need to be complete, appropriate and unambiguous; responsibilities and interfaces must be controlled; reviews, verification and validation need a defined purpose; and outputs must be suitable for subsequent stages. This is where <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-requisitos-engenharia-definicao-rastreabilidade-mudancas-aceite\/\">Requirements Management<\/a> connects directly to quality: a requirement that is not identified or traced will hardly be verified consistently at the end.<\/p>\n<p>It is also important to distinguish review, verification and validation. Review evaluates whether the development is technically consistent and capable of achieving the expected results; verification confirms that outputs meet inputs; and validation confirms that the result is suitable for the intended application or use. In complex projects, these controls may occur at different milestones and involve different teams. The key point is that problems found at these stages must generate action and evidence of treatment, and design outputs must include or reference monitoring and measurement requirements and acceptance criteria.<\/p>\n<p>The same logic extends to external providers. Clause 8.4 requires the organization to determine controls proportional to the impact of the supply on conformity. In engineering, this translates into technical qualification and evaluation of suppliers, sufficiently clear purchasing requirements, inspections, document review, witnessing of tests and verification of the product or service received. For critical supplies, the discipline of <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/servicos\/implementacao\/procurement\/\">Technical Procurement<\/a> reduces the risk of discovering only at receiving or commissioning that equipment does not meet the originally specified requirement.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, implementing ISO 9001 requires closing the loop between performance, deviations and learning. Internal audits, indicators and management review verify whether the system remains effective. When a nonconformity arises, the organization needs to respond to the immediate effect, address the cause to the extent necessary and verify the effectiveness of the actions taken. In projects and construction, the <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/relatorio-nao-conformidade-rnc-ncr-engenharia\/\">Nonconformity Report (RNC\/NCR)<\/a> can structure this evidence chain: identification of the violated requirement, containment, disposition, cause, corrective action, reverification and closure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How certification works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 certification is the formal demonstration, by a third party, that the QMS meets the requirements of the standard. Some points commonly raise questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Who issues it<\/strong> \u2014 an independent, <strong>accredited certification body<\/strong>. ISO publishes the standard but <strong>does not<\/strong> certify; consulting firms and engineering companies <strong>also do not<\/strong> issue the certificate.<\/li><li><strong>How it works<\/strong> \u2014 initial certification audit, periodic surveillance audits and recertification at the end of the cycle.<\/li><li><strong>Is it mandatory?<\/strong> \u2014 no. The standard may be used only as a reference for organizing processes. Certification is a <strong>business decision<\/strong>, useful when the market or client requires it.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ISO 9001 integrated with 14001 and 45001<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because 9001 adopts the High-Level Structure common to management system standards, it can be <strong>integrated<\/strong> with other standards that follow the same structure \u2014 avoiding parallel systems and duplicated documentation. The most common in this integration are <strong>ABNT NBR ISO 14001<\/strong> (environmental management) and <strong>ABNT NBR ISO 45001<\/strong> (occupational health and safety), forming what is known as an integrated management system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 <strong>does not<\/strong> include specific environmental or occupational health and safety management requirements; it is limited to quality. Integration leverages the common structure (context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation and improvement), not an overlap of requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ISO 9001 in consulting engineering<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-a3a-destaque\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Quality is governance applied.<\/strong> At A3A Engenharia, QMS principles translate into defined requirements, clear responsibilities, document traceability, technical verification and evidence capable of supporting acceptance decisions throughout the project life cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn about the <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/governanca-de-projetos-programas-e-portfolios\/\">Project, Program and Portfolio Governance<\/a> solution and <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/implantacao-estruturacao-pmo-engenharia\/\">Engineering PMO Implementation and Structuring<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In consulting engineering, applying ISO 9001 does not mean turning a project into a bureaucratic system of forms. It means structuring Engineering processes so that inputs, interfaces, decisions, reviews, changes and outputs are controlled in proportion to complexity and risk. This is the logic that connects the management system to <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-da-qualidade-principios-processos-engenharia\/\"><strong>quality management applied to Engineering processes<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/controle-documentos-engenharia-document-control\/\"><strong>document traceability<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-requisitos-engenharia-definicao-rastreabilidade-mudancas-aceite\/\">Requirements Management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the design phase, clause 8.3 of ABNT NBR ISO 9001:2015 provides an especially useful structure: inputs must be appropriate, complete and unambiguous; reviews must evaluate the ability of solutions to meet requirements; verification must confirm that outputs meet inputs; validation must confirm suitability for the intended use; and changes must be identified, reviewed and controlled. In practical terms, this creates a governance foundation for <em>Design Review<\/em>, multidisciplinary coordination, independent verification and interface management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contracting and Procurement, quality depends on transforming Engineering requirements into verifiable conditions for suppliers. Specifications, qualification criteria, required documentation, inspection points, FAT criteria, Data Book requirements, release conditions and deviation handling need to be defined before execution. ISO 9001 requires that requirements communicated to external providers be sufficient and that the organization determine the necessary controls over externally provided processes, products and services. This logic connects directly to <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-qualidade-procurement-fornecedores-engenharia\/\">Quality Management in Procurement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During execution, QMS adherence must appear in the evidence: inspections performed according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/plano-inspecao-testes-pit-itp-engenharia\/\">Inspection and Test Plan (PIT\/ITP)<\/a>, suitable and traceable instruments, receiving records, certificates, test reports, NCRs, correction records and approvals. The objective is not to accumulate documents; it is to create a verifiable chain between requirement, execution, evidence and decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When deviations arise, quality governance requires identifying the nonconforming output, preventing unintended use or delivery, defining treatment, recording concessions where applicable and reverifying conformity after correction. Therefore, <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/nao-conformidade-engenharia-tratamento-causa-raiz-acao-corretiva\/\">nonconformity management<\/a> should not be treated as an administrative control separate from the project: it is part of the technical decision-making process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At closeout, the same logic converges on commissioning, acceptance criteria, punch list, As-Built, Data Book and handover. Release should occur only after the planned verifications have been completed and evidence of conformity with the acceptance criteria exists. Quality therefore ceases to be a control restricted to the end of construction and becomes a continuous line accompanying requirement, design, contracting, manufacturing, installation, testing and delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">System conformity can be evaluated through <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/auditoria-da-qualidade-engenharia-planejamento-achados\/\">quality audits<\/a>, connecting requirements, processes, findings, causes and corrective actions. Project governance, PMO, document control and change management form the management infrastructure that allows these controls to operate consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, an organization may hold ISO 9001 certification and still execute a specific project poorly if it does not convert the management system into technical controls appropriate to the contract. Certification demonstrates that an auditable system exists; it does not replace Engineering analysis, supervision, inspection, commissioning or deliverable validation. A3A Engenharia\u2019s institutional position on this topic is presented in <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/qualidade-e-metodologia\/\">Quality and Methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A practical way to make this conversion is to structure <strong>quality gates<\/strong> throughout the project. Instead of concentrating validation at closeout, each stage should have an objective entry and exit condition. A design may require review and approval of design bases before detailing; a purchasing package may require technical bid evaluation and document approval before purchase-order issuance; manufacturing may depend on a PIT\/ITP and defined inspection points; installation may require release before physical closure; and commissioning should start only when readiness prerequisites have been met. These gates turn the QMS into a preventive mechanism and reduce the transfer of problems from one phase to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also advisable to link quality controls to contract governance itself. Requirements, deliverables, acceptance criteria, mandatory evidence, review responsibilities and response times need to appear in the Terms of Reference, specifications, service orders and project plans. When quality and contract administration operate separately, situations arise in which the technical team identifies a deviation but the contracting instrument has not clearly defined who must correct it, what evidence will be required or what impact exists on measurement and acceptance. Maturity lies precisely in making the management system, engineering and contract administration use the same chain of requirements and evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, applying ISO 9001 to consulting engineering requires more than having corporate procedures: it requires adapting controls to the risk and nature of each project. Simple projects may require proportionate verification; critical systems, multidisciplinary works or contracts with multiple suppliers require greater formality, independent review, control points and traceability. The principle remains the same: the intensity of control must be sufficient to demonstrate, with technical evidence, that what was specified, designed, supplied, installed and tested is fit for its intended use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common adoption mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Documenting for the sake of documenting<\/strong> \u2014 creating manuals and forms that nobody uses, confusing paperwork volume with quality.<\/li><li><strong>Treating the standard as bureaucracy<\/strong> \u2014 pursuing the certificate without actually changing processes.<\/li><li><strong>Ignoring risk-based thinking<\/strong> \u2014 reacting to problems instead of preventing them when risk analysis could have avoided them. Tools such as an <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/matriz-de-riscos-projetos-engenharia\/\">engineering project risk matrix<\/a> help with this.<\/li><li><strong>Stopping at certification<\/strong> \u2014 forgetting that the <strong>continual improvement<\/strong> requirement (clause 10) does not end on audit day.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ISO 9001 is not a plaque on the wall: it is a management model that organizes processes, defines responsibilities and creates evidence that the organization delivers consistently. Understanding the difference between requirements and recommendations, adopting the process approach with the PDCA cycle and incorporating risk-based thinking is what separates a living system from one that is merely certified. In consulting engineering, this connects directly to technical governance and control of deliverables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-a3a-destaque\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Specify governance before contracting.<\/strong> A mature management system reduces rework and contractual disputes throughout the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go deeper in the whitepaper <a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/whitepapers\/contratacao-engenharia-consultiva-governanca-rastreabilidade\/\">Contracting Consulting Engineering with Traceability and Governance<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Technical references<\/summary>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[1] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 9001:2015 \u2014 Quality management systems \u2014 Requirements. Geneva: ISO, 2015. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/62085.html\">https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/62085.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[2] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 9000:2015 \u2014 Quality management systems \u2014 Fundamentals and vocabulary. Geneva: ISO, 2015. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/45481.html\">https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/45481.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[3] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 9004:2018 \u2014 Quality management \u2014 Quality of an organization \u2014 Guidance to achieve sustained success. Geneva: ISO, 2018. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/70397.html\">https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/70397.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[4] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 14001 \u2014 Environmental management systems \u2014 Requirements with guidance for use. Geneva: ISO. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/14001\">https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/14001<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[5] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 45001:2018 \u2014 Occupational health and safety management systems \u2014 Requirements with guidance for use. Geneva: ISO, 2018. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/63787.html\">https:\/\/www.iso.org\/standard\/63787.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[6] INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR STANDARDIZATION. ISO 31000:2018 \u2014 Risk management \u2014 Guidelines. Geneva: ISO, 2018. Available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/committee.iso.org\/standard\/65694.html\">https:\/\/committee.iso.org\/standard\/65694.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Frequently asked questions<\/summary>\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-o-que-a-iso-9001-ca69317c\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is ISO 9001?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It is the international standard that defines the requirements for a quality management system (QMS). In Brazil, it is adopted as ABNT NBR ISO 9001:2015 and can be applied by any organization, regardless of size or sector.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-qual-a-diferen-a-entre-iso-9000-e-iso-9001-4a04d96d\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What is the difference between ISO 9000 and ISO 9001?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">ISO 9000 provides the fundamentals and vocabulary and describes the seven principles; ISO 9001 provides the auditable requirements and is the only standard in the family eligible for certification. ISO 9004 guides organizations that want to go beyond the requirements.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-a-iso-9001-2015-ainda-a-vers-o-vigente-d7df3f46\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Is ISO 9001:2015 still the current version?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Yes. The third edition, ABNT NBR ISO 9001:2015, is the current edition and replaced the 2008 edition. Before citing editions of related standards in public documents, it is advisable to confirm the edition currently in force.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-toda-empresa-precisa-de-certifica-o-iso-9001-563d9d2c\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Does every company need ISO 9001 certification?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">No. The standard can be used solely as a reference for organizing processes. Certification is optional and, when adopted, is issued by an accredited certification body \u2014 not by ISO or a consulting firm.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-quais-s-o-os-requisitos-da-iso-9001-9f459f58\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the ISO 9001 requirements?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">They are in clauses 4 to 10: context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement. In the standard, &#x27;shall&#x27; indicates a mandatory requirement and &#x27;should&#x27; indicates a recommendation.<\/p><\/div><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-o-que-a-abordagem-de-processo-e-o-ciclo-pdca-46340a68\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What are the process approach and the PDCA cycle?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The process approach consists of understanding and managing activities as interrelated processes with inputs and outputs. The PDCA cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act) is applied to each process and to the QMS as a whole, always with attention to risks and opportunities.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Complementary technical materials<\/summary><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related solutions<\/h4><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/gestao-processos-workflows-aprovacoes-tecnicas\/\">Process, Workflow and Technical Approval Management<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/gestao-pendencias-rfis-nao-conformidades\/\">Open Items, RFIs and Nonconformities Management<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/solucoes\/gestao-e-governanca-de-engenharia\/gestao-requisitos-evidencias-criterios-aceite\/\">Requirements, Evidence and Acceptance Criteria Management<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related services<\/h4><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/servicos\/levantamento-e-diagnostico\/auditoria-tecnica\/\">Technical Engineering Audit<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/servicos\/contratacao-integrada\/engenharia-do-proprietario\/\">Owner\u2019s Engineering<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/servicos\/implementacao\/apoio-tecnico-fiscalizacao-obras-contratos-engenharia\/\">Technical Support for Construction and Contract Supervision<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main content on the topic<\/h4><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/gestao-da-qualidade-projetos-engenharia\/\">Quality Management in Engineering Projects<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com.br\/conteudo\/artigos-tecnicos\/qa-qc-obras-engenharia-inspecoes-rnc-aceite\/\">QA\/QC in 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perspective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"_a3a_global_related_solutions":[],"_a3a_global_related_services":[],"_a3a_global_related_materials":[],"_a3a_post_lang":"en-us","_a3a_translation_group_id":"6fec9dcb-c0ae-482d-8557-087da7cb93bd","_a3a_i18n_canonical_slug":"iso-9001-quality-management-system"},"categories":[],"segments":[],"mercados":[],"etapas":[],"class_list":["post-72641","articles","type-articles","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/72641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/articles"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/72641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72646,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/articles\/72641\/revisions\/72646"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72641"},{"taxonomy":"segments","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/segments?post=72641"},{"taxonomy":"mercados","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/mercados?post=72641"},{"taxonomy":"etapas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/a3aengenharia.com\/en-us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/etapas?post=72641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}