Many organizations, upon achieving ISO 9001 certification, experience to varying degrees, performance stagnation. Although continual improvement is a facet of ISO 9001, many organizations struggle on how to connect the quality management system to organizational performance improvement, in a sustainable way.

While ISO 9001 addresses the aspects of a quality management system for the benefits of external customers, ISO 9004 addresses the connections between the quality management system and other stakeholders of the organization, such as owners, shareholders, employees, suppliers and Society at large.

ISO 9004 provides guidance on achieving sustainable success, in a much broader perspective, compared to the "narrower" focus of ISO 9001. The following text is an excerpt from the ISO 9004:2009 document:

The sustained success of an organization is demonstrated by its ability to satisfy the needs and expectations of its customers and other interested parties, over the long term and in a balanced way. This can be achieved through awareness of the organization’s environment, the effective management of opportunities and risks, learning from experience, and though the application of improvement and innovation.

This International Standard provides a wider focus on quality management than ISO 9001; it addresses the needs and expectations of all interested parties and their satisfaction, by the systematic and continual improvement of the organization’s performance.

For organizations that are interested in achieving and maintaining sustainable success, via advanced Quality Management Systems and the use of ISO 9004, DNV can assist you. We can perform independent assessments of your Business Management System against the guidance contained in the latest edition of ISO 9004 or we can assist you in performing a self assessment, going through the determination of your organization’s maturity level and how to progress to the next one*.

Please note that there is NO CERTIFICATION possible to ISO 9004. That document does not provide for "auditable requirements" but, instead, contains guidance material. Thus, organizations can not be certified in conformity to ISO 9004.

Interested parties, please email us at ContactUs@dnv.com

*In order to manage threats to impartiality, any organization that is currently certified by DNV to ISO 9001 or any other quality management system standard, can not be provided with advisory services, which could comprise a conflict of interest. Any engagement will be carefully evaluated so we maintain strict compliance with accreditation requirements.