ISO 9001 vs ISO 13485: what are the key differences?

ISO 9001 vs ISO 13485: what are the key differences?

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Ivor Langley
Solutions Consultant at Seal
2 minute read

What are ISO standards 9001 and 13485, and what do they cover? This article aims to answer those questions and to highlight the key differences between the two. ISO (the International Organisation for Standardisation) is a worldwide, independent, non-governmental standard development organisation, made up of representatives from each of its member countries. Certifications in an ISO standard are provided by an independent body and can be a useful tool to add credibility by demonstrating that a company's product or service meets specific requirements and the expectations of its customers. 

ISO 9001

ISO 9001 is the world's most recognised quality management system (QMS) standard, designed to help organisations ensure they meet customer and regulatory requirements while continually improving their processes. The scope of ISO 9001 is broad and its requirements are generic and applicable to any organisation regardless of its size, type, or the products and services it provides. Key principles of ISO 9001 include a strong customer focus, leadership involvement, process approach, and continual improvement. It emphasises meeting customer requirements, improving satisfaction, and enhancing operational efficiency using evidence-based decision making. 

Due to its broad scope, industries commonly using ISO 9001 span manufacturing, service sectors, healthcare, education, and more. Benefits of having a quality management system that earns an ISO 9001 certification include:

  • Improved and consistent product and service quality, 
  • Facilitating opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction,
  • Enhanced market reputation, 
  • And better organisational efficiency and effectiveness.

ISO 9001 flowchart

ISO 13485

ISO 13485 also specifies requirements for a quality management system, however this time a QMS specifically for organisations involved in one or more stages of the life-cycle of a medical device, including design and development, production, storage and distribution, installation, servicing and final decommissioning and disposal of medical devices. The key principles and requirements of ISO 13485 include stringent regulatory compliance, comprehensive risk management, robust process validation, and extensive documentation for traceability and accountability.

While its primary focus is on companies within the medical device sector, including manufacturers, suppliers, and related service providers, ISO 13485 is also used by organisations involved in healthcare equipment and related services. The benefits of ISO 13485 certification include:

  • Enhanced regulatory compliance, 
  • Improved product quality and safety, 
  • Increased market access, 
  • And greater customer and stakeholder confidence in the organisation's commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and reliability.

If you're looking for a more in depth guide to ISO 13485, you can read the complete guide: ISO 13485 certification for medical device manufacturing.

ISO 13485 flowchart

Comparing ISO 9001 and ISO 13485

1. Comparison of scope and applicability

  • ISO 9001:
    • Scope: general standard for quality management applicable to any organisation
    • Applicability: broad application across all industries. Aims to enhance customer satisfaction through effective QMS processes.
  • ISO 13485:
    • Scope: specific to the medical device sector.
    • Applicability: focuses on meeting regulatory requirements for medical devices. Designed for organisations involved in the lifecycle of medical devices, including design, production, installation, and servicing.

2. Differences in requirements and focus areas

  • ISO 9001:
    • Customer focus: emphasis on meeting customer requirements and enhancing satisfaction.
    • Continual improvement: requires organisations to continuously improve their processes.
    • Flexibility: allows organisations to tailor processes and procedures based on their specific needs.
  • ISO 13485:
    • Regulatory compliance: strong focus on meeting regulatory requirements for medical devices.
    • Product safety & efficacy: prioritises safety and performance of medical devices.
    • Risk management: more stringent and specific risk management processes related to medical device safety.
    • Validation & verification: detailed requirements for validation of processes and verification of product conformance.

3. Regulatory vs. non-regulatory focus

  • ISO 9001:
    • Non-regulatory: primarily a business improvement tool without a regulatory compliance emphasis.
  • ISO 13485:
    • Regulatory: tailored to meet regulatory requirements for medical devices. Compliance with ISO 13485 often aligns with regulatory approvals in various markets (e.g., FDA in the U.S., CE marking in Europe).

4. Documentation and record-keeping differences

  • ISO 9001:
    • Documentation flexibility: emphasises documented information but allows flexibility in how documents and records are maintained.
    • Process documentation: focus on documenting processes that are critical to the QMS and customer satisfaction.
  • ISO 13485:
    • Detailed documentation: requires extensive documentation to demonstrate regulatory compliance and traceability of medical devices.
    • Mandatory records: specific requirements for maintaining records related to design, production, validation, risk management, and product traceability.

5. Risk management and process control differences

  • ISO 9001:
    • Risk-based thinking: introduces the concept of risk-based thinking throughout the QMS, but with less stringent requirements compared to ISO 13485.
    • Process control: general requirements for controlling processes to ensure quality outputs.
  • ISO 13485:
    • Comprehensive risk management: detailed and specific requirements for risk management, particularly in relation to product safety and performance throughout the entire lifecycle of medical devices.
    • Process validation and control: extensive requirements for process validation, especially for sterile or critical processes, to ensure product safety and regulatory compliance.

ISO 9001 v. ISO 13485

ISO 9001 provides a framework for a broad range of industries to enhance quality and customer satisfaction through implementation of a quality management system. While ISO 13485 is specifically designed for the medical device industry with stringent requirements to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and effective risk management.

I hope this article has been helpful in understanding the similarities and differences between ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 standards, as well as highlighting the benefits and importance of a quality management system for any organisation as well as those in the medical device sector specifically.