Following on from last week's big news (the ISO 14001 standard receiving its first update in over a decade), we're excited to announce that the latest edition of ISO 9001, the international standard for quality management systems, has now been published as well. This new revision, dubbed ISO 9001:2015, was released earlier today, and standards experts the world over are already poring over the changes that have been made.

What's new in ISO 9001:2015?

Here are some of the differences between ISO 9001:2015 and the previous version of this standard:

• Enhanced compatibility with other management systems. One of the main aims of this revision is to make ISO 9001 more compatible with ISO 14001 and other management systems such as ISO 27001. The new version of ISO 9001 has a higher-level structure than its predecessor, making it easier for businesses to use multiple ISO management systems in conjunction with one another.
  
  
• Stronger emphasis on "risk-based thinking". Official ISO literature highlights this as one of ISO 9001:2015's core concepts. A risk-conscious approach, the organisation has suggested, will help businesses to prevent "undesirable outcomes".
  
  
• Less prescriptive, more performance-based. ISO 9001 has been growing less prescriptive with each new update; over the years, focus has gradually shifted away from rigorous documentation and towards the management process itself. ISO 9001:2015 continues in this tradition, with the revision touted as being less prescriptive than ever.

If you would like to learn more about the ISO 9001 update and what it might mean for your business, please get in touch with NPT Management Systems - we can help you to make sure that your management systems remain fully certified in the wake of this revision.

Image Credit: Isaac Bowen

ISO 14001:2015 - the latest version of the international standard for environmental management systems - was launched this week. This is the first ISO 14001 update since 2004; here's a quick rundown of what's new:

• The revised version of ISO 14001 requires a greater commitment from top-level management, with company leaders becoming more accountable for environmental processes.
  
  
• ISO 14001:2015 also places a greater emphasis on communication, encouraging certified businesses to better communicate their environmental management systems throughout every level of the company hierarchy.
  
  
• Additionally, managers will need to think about the life cycle of what their company offers. It's important to consider the environmental impact of one's products and/or services at every stage (from initial development to "end-of-life"), and ISO 14001:2015 aims to ensure that this is done worldwide.
  
  
• To meet ISO 14001:2015 criteria, any environmental information supplied by businesses must be reliable and accurate.
  
  
• Finally, ISO 14001-compliant environmental management systems will now be expected to show alignment with the overall "strategic direction" of the parent company.

Businesses are already achieving ISO 14001:2015 certification throughout the UK. If you want your company to be among them, contact NPT Management Systems now, or click here to learn more about the ISO 14001 standard.

Environmental management is an important consideration for any business, large or small. Corporations can have a massive impact on the environment, and as a company owner, it's your responsibility to ensure that your business isn't damaging the planet.

So how can you minimise your impact on the world around you? The international standard for environmental management is ISO 14001, and implementing an ISO 14001-certified environmental management system (EMS) is a great way to make sure that your company is doing its environmental duty.

Every ISO-certified EMS revolves around the familiar Plan/Do/Check/Act cycle, and requires a comprehensive approach to environmental policy that ensures good communication and awareness at all levels. As with any other good management system, your EMS should continue to improve even after you've achieved ISO certification; remember, the ultimate goal is to keep your business as environmentally-friendly as possible at all times, and this cannot be achieved without constant planning and action.

With an ISO 14001 update due before the end of the year, now is the time to re-assess your environmental management system and ensure that your processes are as green as possible. If you need help achieving ISO 14001 certification, give NPT a call on 02380 659 867 - we've helped countless businesses to design and implement ISO-compliant management systems, and we'd be more than happy to assist you.

We live in the age of information, and if you're a business owner in 2015, chances are that much of your crucial company information is stored digitally. For this reason, information security management is a key consideration for businesses of all sizes; poor information security could put entire your company in jeopardy at the drop of a hat, and a comprehensive ISMS (Information Security Management System) will help you to address and deal with any and all potential threats.

The international standard for information security management systems is ISO 27001. To achieve ISO certification for your ISMS, you'll need to do the following:

• Plan: Carry out a risk assessment and plan how you will address any potential problems with your current information security system
• Do: Implement your plan of action and ensure that your ISMS meets the needs of your business
• Check: Review the efficacy of your improved ISMS and identify any areas where further improvement could be made
• Act: Make the necessary changes to ensure that your ISMS is completely optimised

(The last two points - Check and Act - will be carried out repeatedly over time once your ISMS is in place.)

Implementing an ISO 27001-certified information security management system within your company is important if you wish to protect your business and its 'information assets'. Since information security relies on people as much as on technology, it is important that you communicate the ISMS plan throughout your entire company once it is in place, ensuring that every employee at every level knows how to keep everything as secure as possible.

NPT Management Systems can help you to plan and implement your information security management and achieve ISO 27001 certification for your business. Click here to learn more, or get in touch to speak with a member of our team.

Achieving ISO 9001 certification for your business doesn't need to be a nightmare. Here's a simple step-by-step guide to the entire process:

• The first step is to get in touch with an ISO consultant such as those here at NPT Management Systems. Navigating the ISO certification process without expert assistance can be very difficult; an experienced consultant will walk you through the whole procedure, ensuring that you cover all bases and get certified on your first attempt.
  
  
• After an initial consultation, your ISO consultant will help you to review your current business processes and design a quality management system that suits your enterprise. Ideally, the proposed system will fit around your existing processes, requiring minimal upheaval on your part.
  
  
• The next step is to implement your quality management system. Again, a good ISO consultant will assist with this, ensuring that the new system is properly integrated at every step of your business's processes.
  
  
• Once your ISO-compliant quality management system is in place, your ISO consultant will help you to choose and liaise with a UKAS-accredited certification body. They will assess your new system and, if all standards are met, award you ISO 9001 certification.

The above process also applies to other ISO standards such as ISO 14001 and ISO 27001. If you would like to achieve any form of ISO certification for your business, contact NPT Management Systems and arrange your free consultation now.