Beyond compliance, building a culture of continuous improvement in risk management

For many organisations, ISO 9001 certification marks a milestone. It’s proof that a management system is in place and operating effectively. But in practice, the most successful organisations go further. They see compliance not as the finish line, but as the foundation for continuous improvement.

Insights from DNV’s Lumina database reveal that one of the most persistent challenges across industries remains Clause 6 of ISO 9001, Planning. More than half of organisations audited between 2023 and 2025 received findings related to this chapter, particularly around Clause 6.1: Actions to address risks and opportunities.

These results tell an important story. While companies are identifying risks, many still struggle to connect them to improvement actions, monitor effectiveness, and use that knowledge to strengthen resilience.

From compliance to learning

Audits are powerful mirrors. They show where processes break down and where systems stop improving. But insight alone isn’t enough. Turning audit findings into learning requires mechanisms for follow-up and collaboration; these are areas where traditional, document-heavy processes often fall short.

This is where digitalisation supports the shift from reactive compliance to proactive improvement. A digital approach allows risks and opportunities to be tracked, evaluated, and acted upon in real time, creating a living management system that evolves with the organisation’s context.

The insight–action connection

Non-conformities identified during ISO audits often highlight where management systems most need improvement. Drawing on aggregated findings from DNV’s Lumina database, DNV has observed that many organisations face similar challenges in the planning phase, particularly in addressing risks and opportunities systematically.

Digital solutions such as Synergi Life MyRisks help close this gap by providing a structured way to capture, evaluate, and follow up on risks and actions. MyRisks enables teams to assign responsibilities, monitor progress, and demonstrate improvement through an auditable workflow.

Together, these insights and tools support a continuous improvement cycle, from recognising common areas of weakness across industries to acting on them within each organisation’s own context. The result is not just stronger compliance, but more foresight, accountability, and learning across the management system.

Embedding risk thinking

True maturity in risk management occurs when identifying and addressing risks is no longer a project activity but part of daily decision-making.

Digitalisation plays a key role here. With accessible, transparent tools, employees at all levels can participate in identifying risks, proposing improvements, and tracking outcomes. Over time, this builds a stronger risk culture: one where improvement is not driven by audit schedules but by curiosity, accountability, and shared ownership of results.

A path forward

As regulatory expectations evolve and resilience becomes a defining business capability, organisations that can translate insight into action will stand out.

Drawing on audit evidence from DNV’s Lumina, it’s clear that many companies struggle with planning and follow-up, areas that are central to effective risk management. Digital solutions such as Synergi Life MyRisks give organisations a practical way to strengthen these processes by connecting risks to actions, responsibilities, and measurable results.

By addressing these well-known challenges proactively, organisations can turn common weaknesses into lasting strengths, building a culture where risk management drives improvement, not just compliance.

Discover how Synergi Life My Risk can support your organisation

Enable proactive risk management with Synergi Life My Risks. Achieve ISO compliance, improve management system performance, and drive informed decisions.