Standards Comparison

    ISO 9001

    Voluntary
    2015

    International standard for quality management systems

    VS

    TISAX

    Mandatory
    2017

    Automotive standard for information security assessments exchange

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 9001 ensures quality management for all industries globally, driving efficiency and customer satisfaction. TISAX mandates automotive-specific information security assessments for supply chain trust. Companies adopt ISO 9001 for broad competitiveness; TISAX for OEM contracts and prototype protection.

    Quality Management

    ISO 9001

    ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Process-based framework with PDCA cycle
    • Risk-based thinking throughout all clauses
    • Seven quality management principles foundation
    • High-Level Structure for multi-standard integration
    • Leadership commitment and continual improvement
    Cybersecurity

    TISAX

    Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    High
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • ENX portal for sharing assessment results across partners
    • Three risk-based assessment levels from self to onsite audits
    • Automotive-specific prototype protection controls
    • 70+ VDA ISA controls built on ISO 27001
    • Three-year labels reducing duplicate supplier audits

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    ISO 9001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 9001:2015 is the international certification standard for quality management systems (QMS). It defines requirements for organizations to consistently meet customer and regulatory needs through a process-based approach using the PDCA cycle and risk-based thinking.

    Key Components

    • 10 clauses (4-10 auditable): context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement
    • Built on **7 quality principlescustomer focus, leadership, engagement of people, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decisions, relationship management
    • Annex SL High-Level Structure enables integration with other ISO standards
    • Voluntary third-party certification with audits

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Enhances customer satisfaction, efficiency, and competitiveness
    • Voluntary but often required for tenders, supply chains
    • Manages risks, reduces waste, boosts reputation
    • Over 1 million certifications worldwide build stakeholder trust

    Implementation Overview

    • Gap analysis, process mapping, training, internal audits
    • Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical
    • Certification via accredited bodies; ongoing surveillance

    TISAX Details

    What It Is

    TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is an industry-specific framework and certification for information security in the automotive supply chain. Developed by the ENX Association based on VDA ISA catalog v5.0.4, it verifies protection of sensitive data like IP, prototypes, and personal information against cyber threats. It employs a risk-based approach with three assessment levels (Basic, Significant, Very High).

    Key Components

    • 70+ controls across 7 groups: Policy, Organization, Personnel, Physical Security, Access, Cryptography, Operations.
    • Builds on ISO 27001 with automotive extensions like prototype protection.
    • Maturity model (0-3+ levels); labels valid 3 years via ENX portal exchange.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Contractual mandates from OEMs (e.g., BMW, VW) for supplier access.
    • Reduces duplicate audits (70-90% efficiency); enables market access, revenue growth.
    • Mitigates risks (breaches cost €4.5M avg.); builds stakeholder trust, ESG benefits.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased rollout (6-18 months): gap analysis, remediation, audits by accredited providers (e.g., DQS, TÜV).
    • Targets Tier 1/2 suppliers, OEMs, services; scalable for SMEs/enterprises globally.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 9001
    Quality management systems, processes, continual improvement
    TISAX
    Information security, prototype protection, automotive data

    Industry

    ISO 9001
    All industries worldwide, any organization size
    TISAX
    Automotive supply chain, primarily European OEMs/suppliers

    Nature

    ISO 9001
    Voluntary global certification standard
    TISAX
    Industry-specific assessment and exchange framework

    Testing

    ISO 9001
    Third-party certification audits every 3 years
    TISAX
    Self-assess to on-site audits, levels AL1-AL3, 3-year validity

    Penalties

    ISO 9001
    Loss of certification, market access barriers
    TISAX
    Contract exclusion, no label issuance, OEM business loss

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 9001 and TISAX

    ISO 9001 FAQ

    TISAX FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages