ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management systems (QMS) developed and published by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO). The standard sets out criteria for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve their quality management systems, thereby ensuring they consistently meet customer requirements and regulatory obligations while aiming for customer satisfaction.

Here is a brief overview of its history and how it came about:

1. Early Development: The roots of ISO 9001 can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s when various national quality standards were being developed. In the United States, the military, and industries such as aerospace and automotive began to develop quality management standards to ensure consistency and reliability in their products and processes.
2. British Influence: In the early 1970s, the British Standards Institution (BSI) published BS 9000, a quality management standard that emphasized the importance of quality assurance and documentation. This standard served as a precursor to ISO 9001.
3. ISO Formation: In 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was formed, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies.
4. ISO 9000 Series: ISO started developing a series of quality management standards in the 1980s, known as the ISO 9000 series. The series included various standards addressing various aspects of quality management, with ISO 9001 focusing specifically on quality management systems.
5. Publication of ISO 9001: The first version of ISO 9001 was published in 1987. Since then, it has undergone several revisions to reflect changes in industry practices, customer needs, and the evolving understanding of quality management principles. Major revisions occurred in 1994, 2000, 2008, and the most recent update in 2015.
6. Continuous Improvement: ISO 9001 is a process-oriented standard that emphasizes the importance of continual improvement, customer satisfaction, and the involvement of all levels of an organization in the quality management process.
7. Global Adoption: ISO 9001 has been widely adopted by organizations of all sizes and industries around the world. Its principles and requirements have become the benchmark for quality management systems, helping organizations enhance their efficiency, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.

Overall, ISO 9001 has played a significant role in promoting quality management practices globally, driving consistency, reliability, and continual improvement in products and services across diverse sectors.

We achieved this certification in February 2001.