As of February 2, 2026, the FDA has officially begun enforcing the Quality Management System Regulation (QMSR)—a structural shift that aligns 21 CFR Part 820 with ISO 13485 and changes how medical device manufacturers willbe inspected.
In Part 1 of this QT9 Q-Cast episode, host Christian Reyes isjoined by Michelle Keane, QA/RA Director at ComplyGuru, to break down what QMSR actually is—and what it is not. This conversation focuses on the why behind the regulation, the FDA’s intent, and how inspections move away fromclause-by-clause audits toward risk-driven system evaluation.
Michelle explains why QMSR is not a simple renumbering exercise, why ISO 13485 certification alone is not enough, and how FDA-retained requirements like complaints, CAPA, MDR, traceability, and labeling remain central enforcement drivers. The episode also explores which manufacturers willfeel the transition most, where legacy QSR assumptions break down, and whyrisk-based thinking is now embedded across the entire quality system—not justdesign controls.
The key takeaway from Part 1 is clear: QMSR rewards organizations with connected systems, leadership accountability, and real risk ownership—whileexposing fragmented processes and compliance theater.
If you’re responsible for quality, regulatory, or executive oversight in medical devices or life sciences, this episode sets the foundation for understanding how FDA inspections change under QMSR before diving intoimplementation details.