Management system guidance

10.0 Improvement

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10.3 Continual improvement – merged into 10.1

« Previous | 10.1 Continual improvement »

In ISO 9001:2026, clause 10.3 Continual improvement no longer exists. Its requirements have been merged with the former clause 10.1 General into a single clause, 10.1 Continual improvement.

Our guidance on continual improvement, updated for ISO 9001:2026, is now on the 10.1 Continual improvement page.

ISO 14001:2026 has made the same change: its clause 10.3 has also been merged into 10.1 – see ISO 14001 clause 10.1 Continual improvement. ISO 45001:2018 still contains a clause 10.3 Continual improvement – see ISO 45001 clause 10.3 Continual improvement.

More information on PDCA

Planning

Context

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
4.1 Organizational Context	4.1 Organizational Context	4.1 Organizational Context
4.2 Relevant Interested Parties	4.2 Relevant Interested Parties	4.2 Workers & Interested Parties
4.3 Management System Scope	4.3 EMS Scope	4.3 OH&S Management System Scope
4.4 QMS Processes	4.4 Environmental Management System	4.4 OH&S Management System

Planning

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
5.1 Leadership & Commitment	5.1 Leadership & Commitment	5.1 Leadership & Commitment
5.2 Quality Policy	5.2 Environmental Policy	5.2 OH&S Policy
5.3 Roles, Responsibilities & Authorities	5.3 Roles, Responsibilities & Authorities	5.3 Roles, Responsibilities & Authorities
		5.4 Consultation & Participation

Support

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
6.1 Risks & Opportunities (6.1.1–6.1.3)	6.1.1 Risks & Opportunities - General	6.1.1 Risks & Opportunities - General
6.2.1 Quality Objectives	6.1.2 Environmental Aspects	6.1.2 Hazard Identification & Assessment
6.2.2 Planning to Achieve Objectives	6.1.3 Compliance Obligations	6.1.3 Legal & Other Requirements
6.3 Planning of Changes	6.1.4 Risks & Opportunities	6.1.4 Planning Action
	6.1.5 Planning Action	6.2.1 OH&S Objectives
	6.2.1 Environmental Objectives	6.2.2 Planning to Achieve Objectives
	6.2.2 Planning to Achieve Objectives
	6.3 Planning of Changes

Doing

Support

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
7.1 Resources	7.1 Resources	7.1 Resources
7.2 Competence	7.2 Competence	7.2 Competence
7.3 Awareness	7.3 Awareness	7.3 Awareness
7.4 Communication	7.4.1 Communication - General	7.4.1 Communication - General
7.5 Documented Information	7.4.2 Internal Communication	7.4.2 Internal Communication
	7.4.3 External Communication	7.4.3 External Communication
	7.5 Documented Information	7.5 Documented Information

Operations

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
8.1 Operational Planning & Control	8.1 Operational Planning & Control	8.1.1 General
8.2 Customer Requirements	8.2 Emergency Preparedness & Response	8.1.2 Eliminating Hazards
8.3 Design & Development		8.1.3 Management of Change
8.4 Purchasing		8.1.4 Procurement
8.5 Product & Service Provision		8.2 Emergency Preparedness
8.6 Release of Products & Services
8.7 Nonconforming Outputs

Checking

Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
9.1 Monitoring & Measurement	9.1.1 Performance Evaluation	9.1.1 Performance Evaluation
9.2 Internal Audit	9.1.2 Evaluation of Compliance	9.1.2 Evaluation of Compliance
9.3 Management Review	9.2 Internal Audit	9.2 Internal Audit
	9.3 Management Review	9.3 Management Review

Acting

Improvement

ISO 9001:2026	ISO 14001:2026	ISO 45001:2018
10.1 Continual Improvement	10.1 Continual Improvement	10.1 Improvement - General
10.2 Nonconformity & Corrective Action	10.2 Nonconformity & Corrective Action	10.2 Incident, Nonconformity & Corrective Action
		10.3 Continual Improvement

How to apply the latest quality management principles

The latest and current quality management principles (QMPs), stated in ISO 9000:2026, are intended to provide the foundation by which any organization can continually improve its performance.

You can learn to apply the latest quality management principles in the context of your business's own particular operations by reviewing and documenting its activities in the context of each quality management principle.

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ISO Navigator™ is our FREE online training tool that shows you how to apply the principles of PDCA to your operations. We also offer many helpful templates that get you on the road to documenting your management system, please visit the download page.