The adoption of a quality management system is a strategic decision for an organization that can help to improve its overall performance and provide a sound basis for sustainable development initiatives. The potential benefits to an organization of implementing a quality management system based on this International Standard are: a) the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements; b) facilitating opportunities to enhance customer satisfaction; c) addressing risks and opportunities associated with its context and objectives; d) the ability to demonstrate conformity to specified quality management system requirements. This International Standard can be used by internal and external parties. It is not the intent of this International Standard to imply the need for: — uniformity in the structure of different quality management systems; — alignment of documentation to the clause structure of this International Standard; — the use of the specific terminology of this International Standard within the organization. The quality management system requirements specified in this International Standard are complementary to requirements for products and services.