An Explanation of Process Maturity According to the New ISO 9001
The final version of the revised standard for quality management systems is scheduled for release by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in autumn 2015. Many organisations have already started to address the expected changes, which are aimed at strengthening the benefits of quality management. To optimise their own processes they need to determine their status quo and identify approaches for introducing improvement.
The revised ISO 9001 offers more flexibility regarding process documentation as a part of the management system. This applies to the documentation of management, strategy and core processes as well as support processes such as maintenance and qualification of persons. For very simple processes, for example, clear verbal instructions in conjunction with training material may be sufficient. Generally, however, traceable documentation in forms such as a checklist or an electronic workflow will be required to provide guidance for various work steps. To safeguard a high level of process quality, the new ISO 9001 includes an ambitious eight-step definition of the expected degree of process maturity. The relevant quality characteristics should be available and effective at each of these eight steps to ensure that organisations implement the standard successfully and realise the benefits offered by the new standard.