We keep the plan and the log together. Anyone can see who tells whom about what, and find what was said to an outside party without digging through old emails.

Effective IMS Registers

This register template is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be easily customised and edited. The document uses pre-defined style formatting throughout, with all text in Calibri font for improved readability.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:

• Register number and title
• Information-classification
• Version
• Page number / total pages

alphaZ documents - beautifully designed, tried and tested register templates. No junk, jargon or unnecessary content. Simple and usable register templates developed over 25 years through practical use in the real world.

Further Reading

Further guidance on communication:

• ISO 9001 Clause 7.4 - Communication
• Awareness of the Management System
• Integrated Management Systems
• ISO 9001 knowledge base

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How to Download

To get access to this file please click on Add to Cart to purchase for immediate download. If you have an alphaZ Subscription just click on Download Files to view all the files available to download. This register is also included in the ISO 9001 Toolkit and every alphaZ ISO toolkit that covers ISO 9001, so the toolkit route gives you this file plus everything else you need in one download.

Need Help Implementing?

If you'd like hands-on help setting out your communication arrangements, or with your wider management system, our remote support services provide direct expert input from our team, by the day, by project, or on an ongoing basis.

Communications Register Template

A communications register in two parts: a communication plan setting out what is communicated, when, with whom, how and who communicates, and a log of significant communications with external interested parties.

ISO 9001:2026 clause 7.4 asks for the internal and external communications relevant to the management system to be determined, including what, when, with whom, how and who. The plan uses exactly those columns, and the log keeps a record of the external communications that matter without logging every routine call and email.

Built for ISO 9001 Clause 7.4

• What, when, with whom, how and who communicates, set out topic by topic
• Internal and external communications in one plan
• Significant external communications logged with the response or action required
• A single record that can be reviewed at management review

What's Included in this Register

• Communication Plan - rows already written for common topics such as the management system, health and safety, data protection, customers and suppliers, to adapt, delete or add to
• Communications Log - date, interested party, details of the communication, method, by whom, response or action required, and filed reference
• What to log - guidance on which external communications are significant enough to log, such as regulator enquiries, formal complaints, legal notices and media enquiries
• Reviewed By and Date Reviewed fields

Who Needs a Communications Register?

Any organisation working to ISO 9001 or an integrated management system that wants its communication arrangements in one place. It is particularly useful where the business deals regularly with regulators, customers and contractors and needs a record of what was said, when and by whom.

Included in the ISO 9001 Toolkit

This register is part of the ISO 9001 Toolkit and every alphaZ ISO toolkit that covers ISO 9001. The IMS1 manual refers to it for communication arrangements, so the plan can be updated without reissuing the manual.

Pairs with the Communications Policy

The P-17 Communications Policy sets out the organisation's commitment to communication, and the PP-1-12 Communications Policy Procedure describes how communication is managed. The register records the arrangements that result.

Using the Register

Work through the plan rows and adjust them to how your organisation actually communicates: delete topics that do not apply, add any that are missing, and put roles against who communicates. Log significant external communications as they happen, file the related correspondence and note the response or action taken. Review the plan at management review, and whenever a new activity, customer requirement or regulator changes what needs to be communicated.

Communication and Awareness

Communicating the management system to workers supports the awareness requirements of ISO 9001:2026 clause 7.3, including the quality policy, objectives, and the organisation's quality culture and ethical behaviour. The management system row of the plan sets out how this is done, through induction, training, toolbox talks and meetings.