Explorative study of the expected consequences for existing quality management systems due to the revision of ISO 9001 in certified companies in Germany

The revised ISO 9001 requires companies fundamentally to restructure their existing quality management system and to adapt it to the processes taking place in the individual company. In this context, it is of utmost importance not only to identify current weak points but also to retain the positive effects of the present quality management system. Based on the results of an empirical survey, this article outlines the main weak points the companies had named which are therefore points of departure in eliminating them. The article demonstrates that the new requirements of ISO 9001 do not present many companies with a difficult challenge, because they are already able to fulfil them.