What is EN ISO 9004:2018?

EN ISO 9004:2018, also known as ISO 9004:2018, is a set of international standards that provides guidelines for organizations to improve their overall performance. It is an extension of ISO 9001:2015, which focuses on quality management systems.

The Purpose of EN ISO 9004:2018

The main purpose of EN ISO 9004:2018 is to enable organizations to achieve sustained success by creating value for their stakeholders. It emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to management that goes beyond just meeting customer requirements.

Key Principles and Guidelines

EN ISO 9004:2018 lays down a framework of principles and guidelines that organizations can use to enhance their performance. These include:

Leadership: Top management plays a crucial role in driving organizational improvement and building a culture of excellence.

Strategy and Planning: Organizations should have a clear vision, mission, and objectives, and develop strategies to achieve them.

Resource Management: Ensuring the availability of resources, both human and physical, to support the organization's activities.

Process Approach: Understanding and managing processes systematically to achieve desired outcomes.

Continual Improvement: A focus on ongoing improvement throughout the organization, involving all employees.

Evidence-Based Decision Making: Using data and information to make informed decisions and drive organizational improvement.

Relationship Management: Building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships with customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Benefits of Implementing EN ISO 9004:2018

Implementing EN ISO 9004:2018 can bring several benefits to organizations. It helps improve overall performance, enhances customer satisfaction, drives continual improvement, and creates a culture of operational excellence. It also provides a framework for self-assessment and benchmarking against best practices.