BSI says that the standard has been ‘substantially’ revised to take into account the fast moving world we operate in, recognising that success depends on more than just traditional elements such as efficiency and process management, but also such factors as social responsibility, environmental management and reputation.
The ISO provides practical guidance to managers who wish to improve their organisation’s overall performance and achieve sustained success.
It has a framework for proactively building the quality of the organisation itself by examining and shaping organisational identity, culture, vision and values. Strategy, leadership, resources and processes are all covered in the standard with guidelines to help deliver lasting results.
The standard is applicable to all organisations, from a small start-up to a multi-national, multi-site conglomerate.
The ISO also includes practical self-assessment tools to assist the user in evaluating where they are now and steps for improvement.
Anne Hayes, head of Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “Whole-business thinking and regular self-assessment is critical to achieving long-term success. This edition of ISO 9004 will prove indispensable to those users who strive for organisational excellence.”
