ISO 9001:2015 has brought to the world of management systems a great synergy between strategic planning and quality management. This does not mean that the requirements of the latest version of the most recognized standard worldwide necessarily include strategic planning, but rather that this Standard can be used as an additional tool to strategic planning.
There are several requirements in ISO 9001:2015 that can be characterized as reference for good planning, such as Context of the Organization. Resourceful tools such as SWOT analysis are commonly used for scenario evaluating, including identifying external and internal issues, which are requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.
Organizational strategy is also achieved through identifying your stakeholders; another requirement of the standard. Defining them and understanding who they are and their respective requirements and expectations is key.
Moreover, the quality policy itself has a significant synergy with the strategic direction of the organization, it is a document where top management defined the premises of the company taking into account the context of the organization previously established.
In addition to the aforementioned requirements, ISO 9001:2015 has brought the best tool for implementing strategic processes: risk management. Through the process of risk management, it is necessary to evaluate and treat risks in the strategic, tactical and operational scope , that is, the strategic processes established in the context of the organization, as well as in the tactical scope with the management system as a whole, as well as the risks of processes in the operational activities.
Another ISO 9001:2015 term that highlights its synergy as strategic planning is change management. The requirements of the Standard describe change planning and the implementation of changes in operational processes. It is a subject that can be directly related to the organizational planning and process within the organization.
These are just a few examples of how ISO 9001:2015 can be used as a tool in strategic planning, it is up to you, quality professional to demonstrate this to top management and put the quality area as a priority of the strategic direction of the organization.
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