To assist firms in implementing, maintaining, or improving their Quality Management System (QMS) in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard, various phases are involved in performing ISO 9001 consulting. This is an outline of a typical ISO 9001 consulting process: 

1. Recognizing Customer Needs: Consultants must first understand the client’s business operations, size, industry, and particular objectives for enhancing or adopting their QMS.
2. Gap Evaluation: Examine the current QMS in light of the ISO 9001 standard standards in order to find any shortcomings and potential improvement areas. This stage aids in determining what modifications or additions are required to satisfy the requirements of the standard.
3. Documentation Review: Examine currently available documentation (manuals, procedures, policies, etc.) to determine what needs to be improved or revised in order to comply with ISO 9001 requirements.
4. Development of Implementation Plan: Draft a thorough plan that outlines the actions required to comply with ISO 9001 standards. This plan might entail things like creating policies, training staff, streamlining procedures, and more.
5. Training: Ensure that staff members are aware of the fundamentals of ISO 9001 and their responsibilities when it comes to putting the QMS into practice or keeping it up to date.
6. Implementation Support: Help put new procedures into place, update existing ones, and help incorporate changes into the organization’s workflow. This could entail ongoing on-site assistance or remote supervision.
7. Internal Audits: Conduct internal audits to assess the QMS’s implementation’s efficacy. These audits assist in locating any non-conformities or areas in need of additional development.
8. Management Review: Help organize management review sessions to assess the effectiveness of the QMS, pinpoint areas for development, and implement required changes.
9. Support for certifying Audits: Provide assistance to a certifying body throughout the formal ISO 9001 certification audit. Throughout the audit process, the consultant may assist the company by answering questions and making sure ISO 9001 standards are being followed.
10. Maintenance Support: Offer continuing assistance in order to keep the QMS up to date and continuously improve it. This could entail follow-up audits, check-ins on a regular basis, or help with any remedial activities that come up after the certification audit.

Remember, providing ISO 9001 consulting services demands a deep comprehension of the ISO 9001 standard, proficiency with quality management concepts, and the capacity to customize solutions to meet the unique requirements of each business. Throughout the entire process of achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 certification, consultants ought to lead and assist the firm.