Quality Assurance (ISO 9001) is the methods or systems used by an organisation to assure the quality of its products or services.  A Quality Management System is the term used to describe a business’s policies, manuals, procedures and work instructions explaining how it will operate and produce the product or deliver the service it is selling.

A Quality Management System will incorporate the following areas,

Internal Audit – A system of internally monitoring and checking that the processes are working and being adhered to.
Document Control – A system of ensuring that the documents, records and processes used by an organisation are up to date and of the current revision to prevent the use of out of date processes & information
Business Risks – Risks impacting on the business’s ability to provide its products or services.
Quality Objectives – The objectives of the business and its quality management system.
Quality Policy – An organisations statement of commitment to providing a Quality Management System and maintaining the principles of ISO 9001
Non-Conformance Management – A system of managing non-conformance or adherence to the systems processes and to prevent non-conforming products or services being delivery to the customer.

ISO 9001 is the international standard written to provide a formal framework and accreditation structure to allow organisations to be certificated.  The standard stipulates the requirements for a quality management system and organisations are the audited against these requirements.  Companies that meet these requirements are awarded the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification.