Logo_100yearsAfnor_CMYK_White
Home > International news > ISO 9001 & ISO 14001: key lessons from 20,000 audits to anticipate the 2026 versions

ISO 9001 & ISO 14001: key lessons from 20,000 audits to anticipate the 2026 versions

Facebook
Email
Twitter
LinkedIn
Agri-food expertise

With the new versions ofISO 9001 and ISO 14001 scheduled for release in 2026, AFNOR analyzed nearly 20,000 audit reports to understand how organizations actually apply these two major standards. This study offers a unique overview of quality and environmental management practices, identifying the most effective performance drivers and the most common weaknesses. It is a strategic tool for anticipating future developments and strengthening the maturity of management systems.

Key lessons from ISO 9001 audits: competence as a differentiating factor
An analysis of 14,000 ISO 9001 audits highlights a key finding: the management of organizational skills and knowledge is both the area best mastered by some organizations... and the one that generates the most non-conformities in others. This duality reveals a major challenge: quality performance depends on the ability to identify critical competencies, structure knowledge transfer, and clarify roles and responsibilities.
The most successful organizations transform these requirements into solid operational practices. Conversely, the gaps observed show that documentation, training, and knowledge management remain very heterogeneous across sectors and company sizes. This variability explains why skills mastery appears to be a strong marker of maturity and a direct lever for customer satisfaction.

A few trends stand out in particular:

  • Critical skills are sometimes poorly identified, which undermines operational continuity.
  • Quality documentation is not always accessible, limiting the adoption of processes.
  • Responsibilities are sometimes unclear, which complicates decision-making and the resolution of discrepancies.

ISO 14001: operational control, both a strength and a weakness
With regard to ISO 14001, audits show that section 8.1: operational control has the greatest number of strengths... but also weaknesses. Advanced organizations demonstrate rigorous management of their activities, integrating environmental risks into their daily operations. However, the study also reveals persistent weaknesses, particularly in waste management, hazardous substances, and emergency preparedness.
These discrepancies serve as a reminder that environmental performance is based on a systemic approach, where environmental analysis must become a real decision-making tool. However, in many organizations, this analysis remains too descriptive and is not used sufficiently to guide actions and priorities.
The study also highlights a key factor: leadership commitment. The organizations that are making the most rapid progress are those where management is actively driving the ecological transition and where staff are involved in the process. They go beyond compliance by integrating the environment into their strategy through eco-design, the circular economy, or life cycle analysis.

Anticipating the 2026 versions: a strategic challenge for organizations
The future versions of the standards, expected in spring 2026 for ISO 14001 and fall 2026 for ISO 9001, will reinforce themes already visible in audits: quality culture, ethical behavior, supply chain, and emerging technologies. These developments are part of a desire to adapt management systems to new operational, societal, and technological challenges.
In this context, the lessons learned from the 20,000 audits analyzed are a valuable indicator for anticipating regulatory changes and preparing action plans. The study offers a concrete look at how organizations apply standards on a daily basis, far beyond the text of the standards themselves. It identifies the requirements that are best mastered, areas of recurring weakness, and the most effective performance levers. For certified organizations or those in the process of certification, it is an essential management tool.

Download the full study

The study proposed by AFNOR offers a detailed analysis, exclusive graphs, and operational recommendations to strengthen your management systems and anticipate developments in 2026. It is intended for all organizations wishing to compare themselves to an international benchmark and improve their performance in a sustainable manner.

Download the full study to access all insights and prepare for your transition to the new ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 versions.

Click here to view the AFNOR GDPR Policy

 

Read more

latest news
from the international network

Agri-food expertise
Taiwan

Building Global Trust Through a Century of Experience—AFNOR Successfully Hosts the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

From September 28 to October 2, the 2026 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual General Meeting, hosted by the French Standards Association (AFNOR), was successfully held in Paris, France. As AFNOR celebrated its 100th anniversary, representatives from standardization bodies, policymakers, industry experts, and industry representatives from more than 170 countries and regions around the world gathered in Paris to discuss the key role of international standards in addressing common global challenges. The theme of this year’s conference was “Building Trust in a Changing World.” The agenda centered on three key areas: “People and the Planet,” “Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence,”“Trade and Development.” On the first day of the conference, ISO/UNDP 53001:2026, “United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Management System—Requirements,” was released to help organizations transform the Sustainable Development Goals from commitments into actions that can be managed, implemented, and measured. The conference also hosted a special session on the new ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard, featuring discussions on how quality management can help organizations turn trust into a strategic advantage. This year’s conference heard the ISO Secretary-General’s work report and focused on reviewing major governance matters, including the implementation of “ISO Strategy 2030,” the digital transformation of standards, business policy, the election of governance officers for the 2027–2029 term, and the 2027 financial budget. The winners of the 2026 Lawrence E. Archer Leadership Award were also announced. Throughout its century-long history, AFNOR has consistently been a key participant and driving force in global standardization governance. During the meeting, following a proposal by AFNOR and approval by ISO members, ISO officially released the “Paris Declaration” on addressing climate change in the global standards sector, calling on member countries to rely on international standards to strengthen climate adaptation capacity and development resilience, and to advance the implementation of the global Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more "
Taiwan

"Fobiao International Certification" Completes ISO 14064-1 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Verification for "Formosa Biotech"

“Fabao International Certification” recently announced that “Formosa Biotech” has successfully passed the ISO 14064-1:2018 greenhouse gas inventory verification, and a certification ceremony was held recently. This verification confirms that the company’s greenhouse gas emissions data and management system comply with international standards. As an internationally recognized third-party verification body, “Fabo International Certification” conducted this verification in accordance with the ISO 14064-1 standard,and conducted an independent assessment of Formosa Biotech’s organizational boundaries, identification of emission sources, and data collection and calculation processes. The verification process confirmed that the company has established a systematic foundation for carbon management, and that its inventory results are complete and reliable, serving as a basis for developing future carbon reduction strategies. To promote sustainable development, “Formosa Biotech” has not only completed its greenhouse gas inventory but has also implemented the principles of the circular economy in its product bottle recycling program, enabling resources to re-enter the circular system and reducing resource consumption and carbon emissions at the source. Through systematic management, the company has demonstrated concrete actions ranging from carbon inventory and carbon reduction initiatives to resource recycling. The professional verification team at “Fabao International Certification” noted that a company’s successful verification of its greenhouse gas inventory indicates it has established a credible carbon management mechanism capable of assessing its environmental performance using scientific data. “Formosa Biotech” has established a management system compliant with international standards, setting an important practical example for the net-zero transition of Taiwan’s biotech industry. “Fabao International Certification” has long provided greenhouse gas inventory verification services, assisting various industries in establishing credible environmental performance data. In the future, it will continue to promote the implementation of low-carbon sustainability goals across Taiwan’s industries through professional verification.

Read more "
Taiwan Banner
Taiwan

「法標國際認證」完成「新光醫院」ISO 14067產品查證

「已成功通過ISO 14067:2018產品碳足跡查證,查證範圍涵蓋健檢中心之無痛腸胃鏡、MRI、CTA、PET,以及血液透析、腹膜透析等六項醫療服務。此項查證確認該院醫療服務之碳排放數據與管理制度符合國際標準要求。 ISO 14067標準,對「新光醫院」各項醫療服務之碳足跡範圍界定、數據蒐集、計算方法及排放係數選用進行獨立評估。查證範圍涵蓋高階影像設備能源使用、RO逆滲透水處理、醫療耗材及病患交通等生命週一致性與透明度。 「新光醫院」將碳足跡管理導入醫療服務現場,透過系統化盤查掌握各項服務之碳排放熱點,為後續減碳措施提供科學依據。此項查證展現醫療機構將環境績效納入服務管理系統之具體作為。 「法標國際認證」專業查證團隊指出,醫療服務通過產品碳足跡查證,代表「新光醫院」已建立可量化、可檢視之碳管理基礎。「新光醫院」建立符合國際標準之管理,為台灣醫療產業之淨零轉型建立重要實踐案例。 「法標國際認證」長期提供產品碳足跡查證服務,協助各產業建立可信之環境促進醫療及相關產業落實低碳永續目標。

Read more "
Back to top