In short: Managing activities as interrelated processes is at the heart of every modern management system. Here is what it means in practice.
ISO 9001 requires organizations to adopt a process approach. But what does that mean day to day?
Think in processes, not departments
A process is a set of interrelated activities that uses inputs to deliver an intended result. Customers experience processes — such as order-to-delivery — that cross departmental boundaries.
Define each key process
- Inputs and outputs
- Owner and responsibilities
- Resources needed
- Risks and opportunities
- Performance indicators and targets
Manage the interactions
Map how processes connect. Many quality problems occur at the hand-offs between processes, not within them.
Apply Plan-Do-Check-Act
Plan the process, run it, measure it and improve it. This cycle, applied to every process, drives continual improvement across the system.
The process approach is a foundation of the Certified Quality Professional (CQP) certification.