ISO 9001

ISO 9001 Readiness Checklist for Industrial Operations

Published 2026-01-24 by ForgeCert Editorial

If you are inside 60 days of an ISO 9001 audit, stop adding new process documents and focus on execution evidence.

1. Verify process ownership

Every core process needs a named owner who can explain:

• Process objective
• Current KPI performance
• Last process review date
• Open corrective actions

2. Check document control discipline

Auditors quickly identify uncontrolled work instructions. Confirm that:

• Only current versions are available on the floor
• Obsolete copies are removed from workstations
• Revision history is visible and approved

3. Validate CAPA closure quality

Closed CAPAs should include objective evidence, not only status text.

Your evidence package should contain:

• Root cause method used (for example, 5-Why or fishbone)
• Corrective action owner and due date
• Verification result after implementation

4. Train by role, not by department

Most organizations train departments broadly and miss role-specific risk. Break training into roles:

• Operators
• Shift supervisors
• Quality engineers
• Internal auditors

5. Run a one-day mock audit

Use a focused mock audit to pressure-test:

• Interview confidence
• Evidence retrieval speed
• Escalation path for nonconformities

A strong mock audit reveals where your LMS learning path should be tightened before the real audit window.