Introduction
The ISO 9004:2009 is one major standard of the
ISO 9000 family, focusing on sustained success of
organizations throughout a quality management approach. ISO 9004:2009 and
ISO 9001:2008 are complementary standards, both providing focus
on
quality management systems, however ISO 9004:2009 gives a wider look on quality management from the overall performance of
the organization with concentration on continuous improvement of the company, and the needs and expectations of the environment (including the customers).
The ISO 9004 standard has been developed by Technical Committee ISO/TCÂ 176, and the latest version (2009) is under revision. The committee approved the 3 years development
programme of the standard during a workshop in 2015.
Source: qMindset.com; ISO.org
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Key Features
The aim of the standard is to support organizations to reach and maintain their objectives by strategic activities and principles in the long term, interacting not only with
their customers, but with all partners and their environment.
The ISO 9004:2009 standard gives guidance for the management of the following fields:
- Managing for the sustained success of an organization (environment, interested parties, needs and expectations, etc.).
- Strategy and policy (formulation, deployment, communication, etc.).
- Resource management (financial, people, suppliers, partners, infrastructure, work environment, information and technology, natural resources, etc.).
- Process management (planning and control, responsibility and authority, etc.).
- Monitoring, measurement, analysis and review
- Improvement, innovation and learning
The standard also provides self-assessment tools to evaluate the maturity of the organization by the assessment of major elements, or even detailed sub-processes.
Source: qMindset.com; ISO.org
Hints
To effectively manage an organization in order to reach sustained success, the guidance and the self-assessment in the ISO 9004:2009 standard is crucial, focusing on the
maturity of processes, resources, strategy, leadership, and the quality system. One of the best practices are to evaluate the mentioned aspects from strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, such as in case of
a comprehensive SWOT analysis.
The revision and reporting structure should be as lean as possible, otherwise decision makers may be lost in the bunch of data and details. Summarizing key areas with
creditable information can effectively support decision making by the management.
Source: qMindset.com; ISO.org
Summary
- ISO 9004:2009 international standard is focusing on sustained success of organizations throughout a quality management approach.
- ISO 9004:2009 is part of the ISO 9000 family.
- The ISO 9004 standard was first published in 1987 (it was released as ISO 9004:1987).
- The key elements of the standard are to give guidance and principles for the planning, maintenance and improvement of strategy, process and resource management, monitoring, improvement, etc.
- ISO 2004:2009 and ISO 9001:2008 are complementary quality standards.
Source: qMindset.com; ISO.org
