ISO 9001 Foundation: Quality Management System

Foundation level: why that is the right starting point

This is a foundation course. It gives you the concepts and vocabulary of quality management without the depth required to implement or audit a full management system.

That is deliberately useful. A quality programme only works when the people around it (process owners, frontline staff, suppliers) understand what a QMS is asking of them. Training everyone to lead-auditor level is neither necessary nor affordable; training them to recognise nonconformity and understand the controls is.

Where to go next

If you need to implement or lead an audit of a quality management system, the ISO 9001 Lead Implementer and Lead Auditor courses build directly on this material.

What you will learn

• Describe quality management concepts and principles
• Explain the main ISO 9001 requirements for a quality management system
• Identify actions organisations can take to achieve conformity to ISO 9001
• Recognise how the process approach and risk-based thinking apply in practice

Course content

1. 1. Quality management fundamentals

   Core concepts, principles and the scope of a quality management system (QMS).

2. 2. ISO 9001 requirements

   Clause-by-clause requirements, from context of the organisation through to improvement.

3. 3. The process approach and risk-based thinking

   How ISO 9001 expects processes to be managed and risk to be addressed.

4. 4. Certification and continual improvement

   What the certification process involves and how a QMS is expected to mature.

Exam and certification

Closed-book written exam delivered online through PECB Exams. Duration: 1 hour.

Your fee includes your first exam attempt and one free retake within 12 months. After passing, you can apply for the relevant PECB credential.