ISO 9001 Clause 10.3 Continual improvement
- wilkshireconsulting
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
ISO 9001 10.3 Continual improvement is the capstone of the standard’s improvement-focused mindset, reinforcing the principle that a quality Management System (QMS) should always be evolving and getting better. ISO 9001 clause 10.3 is the final clause of the ISO 9001 standard.
In this blog post we will be discussing the following:
What does 10.3 require?
What is continual Improvement?
How can your organization demonstrate continual improvement?
Key actions to enable continual improvement
Is documentation required?
International Organization for Standardization. ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems – Requirements
10.3 Continual improvement
The organization shall continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the quality management system.
What does 10.3 require?
The organization must continually improve the suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the QMS.
This means that:
· Suitability – The QMS remains aligned with the organization’s purpose, strategic direction, and external/ internal context.
· Adequacy – The QMS addresses all necessary requirements.
· Effectiveness – The QMS achieves its intended results, such as quality objectives and customer satisfaction.
What is continual Improvement?
Continual Improvement is an ongoing effort to enhance these things:
1. Products and services
2. Processes
3. Systems
4. Customer satisfaction
5. Operational performance
It's not about big leaps all the time – small, consistent changes can also have a powerful cumulative impact.
How can your organization demonstrate continual improvement?
Improvement activities may arise from:
· Data analysis
· Results of audits (internal or external)
· Management reviews (Clause 9.3)
· Risk and opportunity assessments (Clause 6.1)
· Customer Feedback
· Corrective actions (Clause 10.2)
· Innovation and idea generation from employees
Methods/tools often used:
· PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle
· Lean, Six Sigma
· Kaizen
· Benchmarking
· Lessons learned sessions
Key actions to enable continual improvement
1. Monitor and measure performance regularly.
2. Identify trends and recurring issues.
3. Encourage employee involvement and suggestions.
4. Benchmark against competitors or industry standards.
5. Invest in training, technology, or process upgrades.
6. Track progress and results of improvement projects.
Is documentation required?
ISO 9001 does not require a formal “continual improvement procedure,” but you must be able to demonstrate that continual improvement is taking place.
Evidence might include these things:
1. Improvement project logs
2. Updated quality objectives
3. KPI trends showing progress
4. Customer satisfaction trends
5. Audit improvement reports
In conclusion, clause 10.3 Continual improvement emphasizes that organizations do not become complacent but instead continuously strive to enhance their QMS. Improvement can be driven by data, feedback, innovation, or process analysis and should be aligned with strategic goals. It’s a long-term mindset focused on excellence, competitiveness, and sustained customer satisfaction. In the next blog post we will be recapping the ISO 9001 standard and highlighting important parts in the last blog post of the ISO 9001 standard.
Related blog posts –
ISO 9001 Clause 10.2 Nonconformity and corrective action
ISO 9001 Clause 10.1 General
ISO 9001 Clause 10 Improvement Overview
ISO 9001 Clause 9 Performance Evaluation Overview
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Phone: (248) 890-9283
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