ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies that develops and publishes voluntary international standards. It has 163 member countries with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland that coordinates the system. ISO standards are developed through consensus by representatives from member countries and experts from industry and consumer organizations.
Innovation has come to be recognized as one of the essential drivers of successful business. In recent years, finding ways of
fostering innovation has emerged as a central concern to both forward-thinking companies and government.
The establishment of standards is an important step towards fostering innovation in any industry. Most evidently in new
technologies, but also among well established areas of business, the use of carefully developed standards is providing the environment and setting the best possible conditions in which innovation can thrive.
The document outlines the goals and objectives of Paige Papellardo. It lists things she wants to accomplish before the end of the year including getting an on-campus job to help pay for expenses and look good on her resume, and passing all of her classes to graduate on time and improve her chances of getting a good job. It also discusses participating in community service to help others and feel good about herself, as well as joining a club to get involved on campus and meet new people. Long term, the document states Paige wants to become a nurse and work in a hospital in Boston, and to travel internationally to experience different cultures and become more understanding of other lifestyles.
Este documento clasifica diferentes tipos de animales, incluyendo caballos, perros, gatos y leones como animales terrestres, y otros como animales acuáticos.
PayPal appointed a new country manager for Hong Kong who aims to grow PayPal's merchant base and increase online payments in the region. The article provides background on the new country manager and his experience in the payments industry. It also notes PayPal's goals of making online payments more popular and accessible in Hong Kong.
La maestra Luz Elena González Gómez describe su entorno personal de aprendizaje (PLE), incluyendo los navegadores que usa (Google Chrome, Explorer y Mozilla Firefox), sitios para buscar información (Wikipedia y YouTube), redes sociales (Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Twitter y LinkedIn), y herramientas para crear documentos. También comparte enlaces a sus perfiles en redes sociales y blogs, así como sus direcciones de correo electrónico, donde alienta a otros a comentar para seguir mejorando su aprendizaje.
Este documento describe las principales riquezas del estado de Guanajuato en México, incluyendo sus riquezas culturales, naturales y económicas. Entre las riquezas culturales se destacan las momias, el callejón del beso y varias leyendas. Las riquezas naturales incluyen paisajes, el Jardín de la Unión y la flora y fauna de León. Finalmente, las principales riquezas económicas son la industria manufacturera, la agricultura y el turismo.
PayPal aims to maintain competitiveness through innovation. The article discusses PayPal's plans to innovate and stay ahead of competitors in the mobile payments space in Hong Kong. PayPal was featured in the PC Market section of an 80,000 circulation Hong Kong publication on March 11, 2014 discussing their focus on innovation.
This document provides an overview of ISO standards and certification. It discusses:
- ISO is the world's largest developer of international standards, with 163 member countries. ISO standards are voluntary but can become market requirements.
- ISO 9001 relates to quality management systems and certification. It aims to help organizations meet customer needs. Over 1 million organizations are ISO 9001 certified globally.
- ISO 14001 pertains to environmental management system requirements and guidance. Certification can help with regulations, markets, costs, and image.
Innovation has come to be recognized as one of the essential drivers of successful business. In recent years, finding ways of
fostering innovation has emerged as a central concern to both forward-thinking companies and government.
The establishment of standards is an important step towards fostering innovation in any industry. Most evidently in new
technologies, but also among well established areas of business, the use of carefully developed standards is providing the environment and setting the best possible conditions in which innovation can thrive.
The document outlines the goals and objectives of Paige Papellardo. It lists things she wants to accomplish before the end of the year including getting an on-campus job to help pay for expenses and look good on her resume, and passing all of her classes to graduate on time and improve her chances of getting a good job. It also discusses participating in community service to help others and feel good about herself, as well as joining a club to get involved on campus and meet new people. Long term, the document states Paige wants to become a nurse and work in a hospital in Boston, and to travel internationally to experience different cultures and become more understanding of other lifestyles.
Este documento clasifica diferentes tipos de animales, incluyendo caballos, perros, gatos y leones como animales terrestres, y otros como animales acuáticos.
PayPal appointed a new country manager for Hong Kong who aims to grow PayPal's merchant base and increase online payments in the region. The article provides background on the new country manager and his experience in the payments industry. It also notes PayPal's goals of making online payments more popular and accessible in Hong Kong.
La maestra Luz Elena González Gómez describe su entorno personal de aprendizaje (PLE), incluyendo los navegadores que usa (Google Chrome, Explorer y Mozilla Firefox), sitios para buscar información (Wikipedia y YouTube), redes sociales (Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp, Twitter y LinkedIn), y herramientas para crear documentos. También comparte enlaces a sus perfiles en redes sociales y blogs, así como sus direcciones de correo electrónico, donde alienta a otros a comentar para seguir mejorando su aprendizaje.
Este documento describe las principales riquezas del estado de Guanajuato en México, incluyendo sus riquezas culturales, naturales y económicas. Entre las riquezas culturales se destacan las momias, el callejón del beso y varias leyendas. Las riquezas naturales incluyen paisajes, el Jardín de la Unión y la flora y fauna de León. Finalmente, las principales riquezas económicas son la industria manufacturera, la agricultura y el turismo.
PayPal aims to maintain competitiveness through innovation. The article discusses PayPal's plans to innovate and stay ahead of competitors in the mobile payments space in Hong Kong. PayPal was featured in the PC Market section of an 80,000 circulation Hong Kong publication on March 11, 2014 discussing their focus on innovation.
This document provides an overview of ISO standards and certification. It discusses:
- ISO is the world's largest developer of international standards, with 163 member countries. ISO standards are voluntary but can become market requirements.
- ISO 9001 relates to quality management systems and certification. It aims to help organizations meet customer needs. Over 1 million organizations are ISO 9001 certified globally.
- ISO 14001 pertains to environmental management system requirements and guidance. Certification can help with regulations, markets, costs, and image.
Referencing IEC and ISO Standards in Public PolicySoe Hein Kyaw
Brief Introduction on How Countries use IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)/ISO (International Organization for Standardization) for their Public Policies.
Methods of Referencing IEC/ISO by Policy Makers
Consideration to use IEC and ISO for Public Policy
Advantages & Benefits of Referencing IEC/ISO for Public Policy
Examples of Countries referencing ISO/IEC such as JAPAN, USA, MEXICO, CHINA
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation comprising 170 member countries that promotes standardization to facilitate international exchange and cooperation. ISO began in 1947 to coordinate industrial standards internationally and now covers standardization in almost all fields except electrical engineering. ISO standards are developed by technical committees and approved by consensus of member countries to ensure compatibility and interoperability of products, processes and services globally.
An Organization Should Approach All Tasks With The Idea That They Can Be Accomplished In A Superior Fashion
An organization capability refers to the way systems and people in the organization work together to get things done. The way leaders foster shared mindsets, orchestrate talent, encourage speed of change, collaborate across boundaries, and learn and hold each other accountable define the company's culture and leadership edge.
The firm’s ability to manage people
to gain competitive advantage.
• focuses on internal processes and systems for meeting customer needs
• creates organization-specific competencies that provide competitive advantage since they are unique
• ensures that employee skills and efforts are directed toward achieving organizational goals and strategies
A document issued by a recognized agency, and dealing with design and safety requirements relating to a specific product.
EXAMPLES
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (051-IA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
OSHA standards are generally legally binding for an employer,
while ANSI standards are generally of an advisory nature. set industry standards with input from industry representatives and consumers.
“ Value Chain Analysis (VCA) is a process where a firm identifies its primary and support activities that add to its final product and then analysis to reduce costs or increase differentiation.”
“ Value Chain represents the internal activities a firm engages in when transforming inputs into outputs.”
Organizational Appraisal is the process of monitoring an organization’s internal environment to identify strengths and weaknesses that may influence the firms ability to achieve GOALS. It include identifying strengths and weaknesses.
A document issued by a recognized agency, and dealing with design and safety requirements relating to a specific product.
EXAMPLES
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (051-IA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
OSHA standards are generally legally binding for an employer,
while ANSI standards are generally of an advisory nature. set industry standards with input from industry representatives and consumers.
A measurement of the quality
of an organization's policies, products, programs, strategies, etc., and their comparison with standard measurements, or similar measurements of its peers.
Standards institutions like the Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology (NBSM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) develop and maintain standards to ensure quality, safety, and consistency. NBSM is Nepal's national standards body, ISO has published over 19,500 international standards covering technology and business, and ASTM has over 30,000 members who develop consensus-based standards through technical committees. Standards help businesses, governments, and society by improving quality, opening markets, increasing safety and environmental protection, and more.
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, a global network of national standards bodies. It has 163 member countries and coordinates the development of voluntary international standards to ensure compatibility in trade, technology, and communication. ISO standards aim to make products, services, and systems safer and more efficient while reducing risk and environmental impact.
DQS in Dialog (DiD) is a quarterly customer newsletter published by DQS Holding GmbH with its balanced mix of reports on new standards and specifications, services or developments, it sees itself as a promoter of dialog. Many practical examples from DQS customers in all business sectors, regions, and with all kinds of management systems encourage readers and authors to enter into an active exchange of ideas.
The document provides information about the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) including:
- ISO originated from the union of two organizations in 1946 and began operations in 1947, publishing over 19,500 international standards.
- ISO is the world's largest developer of voluntary international standards and has members from 162 countries working to develop standards through global consensus.
- Popular ISO standards include those related to quality management (ISO 9000), food safety (ISO 22000), risk management, social responsibility, and language codes.
- ISO standards are developed by technical committees comprised of global experts through a consensus-based process in response to industry needs.
ISO:9000 family means organization of a product or service assuring continued quality assurance to customer delight.ISO 9000 was created to produce an international set of process quality standards.It consists of Written procedures that were inspected to ensure consistency
The document discusses various types of ISO certifications and standards. It provides an overview of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which promotes worldwide standards. Popular ISO standards discussed include ISO 9000 for quality management, ISO 14000 for environmental management, ISO 22000 for food safety management, and ISO 26000 for social responsibility. The document also lists and briefly describes several other ISO standards covering topics such as risk management, currency codes, language codes, information security, and more.
Standardisation of Banks-Jayakar Bathula, NALSAR University of Law-HYDERABADJayakar Bathula Jayakar
This document provides an overview of various banking standards and standardization organizations from India, internationally, and across different regions. It discusses the Bureau of Indian Standards and its role in developing and maintaining standards in India. It also describes the International Organization for Standardization and key standards it develops for banking. The document outlines international banking standards developed by the EU, USA, and for Islamic banking. It summarizes some major international banking standards organizations and their roles in standardizing practices.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental organization that develops and publishes voluntary international standards to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency. It was founded in 1946 and has members from 162 countries. ISO follows a consensus-based process to develop standards through technical committees with experts from member countries. Popular ISO standards cover areas like quality management, information security, environmental management, and more. Certification to standards is performed by external certification bodies, not ISO directly.
The document discusses how ISO standards are developed through a consensus-building process among technical committees and member votes. If approved, the draft becomes a published International Standard. It also outlines ISO's partnerships with other international standardization bodies through the World Standards Cooperation, as well as collaborations with UN agencies and over 600 other international organizations to harmonize regulations. Finally, it mentions ISO's recognition of regional standards organizations from different parts of the world.
Introduction to International StandardizationKris Kimmerle
This is my publication on the Introduction to International Standardization. In this publication I overview the ISO, IEC, and Common Criteria international organizations and their unique approaches to security evaluations, certification & accreditation, and lastly standard development.
Overview And Principles Of Standardization 27 May 2008anisazila
This document provides an overview of standardization and conformity assessment. It defines what standards and specifications are, and describes the different categories and levels of standards from international to national to industry standards. It explains that standards are developed by committees with representatives from government, industry, consumers and other groups. Standards help ensure quality, safety, interchangeability and fair trade. Conformity assessment is the process of testing and certifying that products meet relevant standards, and accreditation certifies the competence of the conformity assessment bodies. The aims of standardization in construction are to improve quality of life, trade conditions, efficient use of resources and quality of goods and services.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards through a consensus-based process involving technical committees and member votes. If approved, draft standards become published international standards. ISO collaborates closely with other international standards bodies and organizations like the UN on issues involving trade, health, transportation and more. It also partners with regional standards organizations and seeks input from business and consumer groups to develop standards globally.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a free, non-legislative participation association and the world's biggest engineer of willful International Standards. ISO are comprised of our 163 part nations who are the national gauges bodies around the globe, with a Central Secretariat that is situated in Geneva, Switzerland. Take in more about our structure and how we are represented.
Global Standards make things work. They give world-class particulars for items, administrations and frameworks, to guarantee quality, wellbeing and effectiveness. They are instrumental in encouraging global exchange. ISO has distributed more than 19 500 International Standards covering each industry, from innovation, to sustenance wellbeing, to agribusiness and human services. ISO International Standards sway everybody, all around.
The document discusses the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
ASTM is an international standards organization founded in 1898 that develops technical standards through a consensus process. It has over 30,000 members from 140 countries who develop test methods and standards to support various industries. Some key ASTM standards are cited.
BIS is India's national standards body, established in 1987. It has various roles such as formulating standards, certification, and testing and calibration services. It aims to harmonize standard development and promote quality, safety, and trade. Over 19,000 Indian standards have been formulated covering various technologies.
First, I would like to thank the conference organizers for inviting me to speak on a subject so critical for global economies and the quality infrastructure community.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards through a consensus-based process. A technical committee discusses a draft standard until consensus is reached, then it is circulated for comment and voting. If approved, it is published as an international standard. ISO collaborates closely with other international standards bodies and organizations like the UN on issues like food safety, transportation, health, and more. It works with regional standards organizations and over 600 other international groups to promote standardization worldwide.
Way To Manage Standards Of Your Businessthomasmary607
Want to improve the standards of your business, then have a look at PDF for more information. BSB Edge is providing international standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help organizations tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business.
Referencing IEC and ISO Standards in Public PolicySoe Hein Kyaw
Brief Introduction on How Countries use IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)/ISO (International Organization for Standardization) for their Public Policies.
Methods of Referencing IEC/ISO by Policy Makers
Consideration to use IEC and ISO for Public Policy
Advantages & Benefits of Referencing IEC/ISO for Public Policy
Examples of Countries referencing ISO/IEC such as JAPAN, USA, MEXICO, CHINA
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a worldwide federation comprising 170 member countries that promotes standardization to facilitate international exchange and cooperation. ISO began in 1947 to coordinate industrial standards internationally and now covers standardization in almost all fields except electrical engineering. ISO standards are developed by technical committees and approved by consensus of member countries to ensure compatibility and interoperability of products, processes and services globally.
An Organization Should Approach All Tasks With The Idea That They Can Be Accomplished In A Superior Fashion
An organization capability refers to the way systems and people in the organization work together to get things done. The way leaders foster shared mindsets, orchestrate talent, encourage speed of change, collaborate across boundaries, and learn and hold each other accountable define the company's culture and leadership edge.
The firm’s ability to manage people
to gain competitive advantage.
• focuses on internal processes and systems for meeting customer needs
• creates organization-specific competencies that provide competitive advantage since they are unique
• ensures that employee skills and efforts are directed toward achieving organizational goals and strategies
A document issued by a recognized agency, and dealing with design and safety requirements relating to a specific product.
EXAMPLES
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (051-IA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
OSHA standards are generally legally binding for an employer,
while ANSI standards are generally of an advisory nature. set industry standards with input from industry representatives and consumers.
“ Value Chain Analysis (VCA) is a process where a firm identifies its primary and support activities that add to its final product and then analysis to reduce costs or increase differentiation.”
“ Value Chain represents the internal activities a firm engages in when transforming inputs into outputs.”
Organizational Appraisal is the process of monitoring an organization’s internal environment to identify strengths and weaknesses that may influence the firms ability to achieve GOALS. It include identifying strengths and weaknesses.
A document issued by a recognized agency, and dealing with design and safety requirements relating to a specific product.
EXAMPLES
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (051-IA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
OSHA standards are generally legally binding for an employer,
while ANSI standards are generally of an advisory nature. set industry standards with input from industry representatives and consumers.
A measurement of the quality
of an organization's policies, products, programs, strategies, etc., and their comparison with standard measurements, or similar measurements of its peers.
Standards institutions like the Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology (NBSM), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) develop and maintain standards to ensure quality, safety, and consistency. NBSM is Nepal's national standards body, ISO has published over 19,500 international standards covering technology and business, and ASTM has over 30,000 members who develop consensus-based standards through technical committees. Standards help businesses, governments, and society by improving quality, opening markets, increasing safety and environmental protection, and more.
ISO is the International Organization for Standardization, a global network of national standards bodies. It has 163 member countries and coordinates the development of voluntary international standards to ensure compatibility in trade, technology, and communication. ISO standards aim to make products, services, and systems safer and more efficient while reducing risk and environmental impact.
DQS in Dialog (DiD) is a quarterly customer newsletter published by DQS Holding GmbH with its balanced mix of reports on new standards and specifications, services or developments, it sees itself as a promoter of dialog. Many practical examples from DQS customers in all business sectors, regions, and with all kinds of management systems encourage readers and authors to enter into an active exchange of ideas.
The document provides information about the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) including:
- ISO originated from the union of two organizations in 1946 and began operations in 1947, publishing over 19,500 international standards.
- ISO is the world's largest developer of voluntary international standards and has members from 162 countries working to develop standards through global consensus.
- Popular ISO standards include those related to quality management (ISO 9000), food safety (ISO 22000), risk management, social responsibility, and language codes.
- ISO standards are developed by technical committees comprised of global experts through a consensus-based process in response to industry needs.
ISO:9000 family means organization of a product or service assuring continued quality assurance to customer delight.ISO 9000 was created to produce an international set of process quality standards.It consists of Written procedures that were inspected to ensure consistency
The document discusses various types of ISO certifications and standards. It provides an overview of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) which promotes worldwide standards. Popular ISO standards discussed include ISO 9000 for quality management, ISO 14000 for environmental management, ISO 22000 for food safety management, and ISO 26000 for social responsibility. The document also lists and briefly describes several other ISO standards covering topics such as risk management, currency codes, language codes, information security, and more.
Standardisation of Banks-Jayakar Bathula, NALSAR University of Law-HYDERABADJayakar Bathula Jayakar
This document provides an overview of various banking standards and standardization organizations from India, internationally, and across different regions. It discusses the Bureau of Indian Standards and its role in developing and maintaining standards in India. It also describes the International Organization for Standardization and key standards it develops for banking. The document outlines international banking standards developed by the EU, USA, and for Islamic banking. It summarizes some major international banking standards organizations and their roles in standardizing practices.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental organization that develops and publishes voluntary international standards to ensure quality, safety, and efficiency. It was founded in 1946 and has members from 162 countries. ISO follows a consensus-based process to develop standards through technical committees with experts from member countries. Popular ISO standards cover areas like quality management, information security, environmental management, and more. Certification to standards is performed by external certification bodies, not ISO directly.
The document discusses how ISO standards are developed through a consensus-building process among technical committees and member votes. If approved, the draft becomes a published International Standard. It also outlines ISO's partnerships with other international standardization bodies through the World Standards Cooperation, as well as collaborations with UN agencies and over 600 other international organizations to harmonize regulations. Finally, it mentions ISO's recognition of regional standards organizations from different parts of the world.
Introduction to International StandardizationKris Kimmerle
This is my publication on the Introduction to International Standardization. In this publication I overview the ISO, IEC, and Common Criteria international organizations and their unique approaches to security evaluations, certification & accreditation, and lastly standard development.
Overview And Principles Of Standardization 27 May 2008anisazila
This document provides an overview of standardization and conformity assessment. It defines what standards and specifications are, and describes the different categories and levels of standards from international to national to industry standards. It explains that standards are developed by committees with representatives from government, industry, consumers and other groups. Standards help ensure quality, safety, interchangeability and fair trade. Conformity assessment is the process of testing and certifying that products meet relevant standards, and accreditation certifies the competence of the conformity assessment bodies. The aims of standardization in construction are to improve quality of life, trade conditions, efficient use of resources and quality of goods and services.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards through a consensus-based process involving technical committees and member votes. If approved, draft standards become published international standards. ISO collaborates closely with other international standards bodies and organizations like the UN on issues involving trade, health, transportation and more. It also partners with regional standards organizations and seeks input from business and consumer groups to develop standards globally.
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a free, non-legislative participation association and the world's biggest engineer of willful International Standards. ISO are comprised of our 163 part nations who are the national gauges bodies around the globe, with a Central Secretariat that is situated in Geneva, Switzerland. Take in more about our structure and how we are represented.
Global Standards make things work. They give world-class particulars for items, administrations and frameworks, to guarantee quality, wellbeing and effectiveness. They are instrumental in encouraging global exchange. ISO has distributed more than 19 500 International Standards covering each industry, from innovation, to sustenance wellbeing, to agribusiness and human services. ISO International Standards sway everybody, all around.
The document discusses the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
ASTM is an international standards organization founded in 1898 that develops technical standards through a consensus process. It has over 30,000 members from 140 countries who develop test methods and standards to support various industries. Some key ASTM standards are cited.
BIS is India's national standards body, established in 1987. It has various roles such as formulating standards, certification, and testing and calibration services. It aims to harmonize standard development and promote quality, safety, and trade. Over 19,000 Indian standards have been formulated covering various technologies.
First, I would like to thank the conference organizers for inviting me to speak on a subject so critical for global economies and the quality infrastructure community.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops standards through a consensus-based process. A technical committee discusses a draft standard until consensus is reached, then it is circulated for comment and voting. If approved, it is published as an international standard. ISO collaborates closely with other international standards bodies and organizations like the UN on issues like food safety, transportation, health, and more. It works with regional standards organizations and over 600 other international groups to promote standardization worldwide.
Way To Manage Standards Of Your Businessthomasmary607
Want to improve the standards of your business, then have a look at PDF for more information. BSB Edge is providing international standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help organizations tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business.
1. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards.<br />ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of 163 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. <br />ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. On the one hand, many of its member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots uniquely in the private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of industry associations. <br />Therefore, ISO enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society.<br />ISO's name<br />Because quot;
International Organization for Standardizationquot;
would have different acronyms in different languages (quot;
IOSquot;
in English, quot;
OINquot;
in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), its founders decided to give it also a short, all-purpose name. They chose quot;
ISOquot;
, derived from the Greek isos, meaning quot;
equalquot;
. Whatever the country, whatever the language, the short form of the organization's name is always ISO.<br />Why standards matter <br />Standards make an enormous and positive contribution to most aspects of our lives. <br />Standards ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability - and at an economical cost.<br />When products and services meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted and be unaware of the role of standards. However, when standards are absent, we soon notice. We soon care when products turn out to be of poor quality, do not fit, are incompatible with equipment that we already have, are unreliable or dangerous. <br />When products, systems, machinery and devices work well and safely, it is often because they meet standards. And the organization responsible for many thousands of the standards which benefit the world is ISO.<br />When standards are absent, we soon notice.<br />What standards do<br />ISO standards:<br />make the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner<br />facilitate trade between countries and make it fairer<br />provide governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation, and conformity assessment<br />share technological advances and good management practice<br />disseminate innovation<br />safeguard consumers, and users in general, of products and services<br />make life simpler by providing solutions to common problems<br />Who standards benefit<br />ISO standards provide technological, economic and societal benefits. <br />For businesses, the widespread adoption of International Standards means that suppliers can develop and offer products and services meeting specifications that have wide international acceptance in their sectors. Therefore, businesses using International Standards can compete on many more markets around the world.<br />For innovators of new technologies, International Standards on aspects like terminology, compatibility and safety speed up the dissemination of innovations and their development into manufacturable and marketable products.<br />For customers, the worldwide compatibility of technology which is achieved when products and services are based on International Standards gives them a broad choice of offers. They also benefit from the effects of competition among suppliers.<br />For governments, International Standards provide the technological and scientific bases underpinning health, safety and environmental legislation.<br />For trade officials, International Standards create quot;
a level playing fieldquot;
for all competitors on those markets. The existence of divergent national or regional standards can create technical barriers to trade. International Standards are the technical means by which political trade agreements can be put into practice.<br />For developing countries, International Standards that represent an international consensus on the state of the art are an important source of technological know-how. By defining the characteristics that products and services will be expected to meet on export markets, International Standards give developing countries a basis for making the right decisions when investing their scarce resources and thus avoid squandering them.<br />For consumers, conformity of products and services to International Standards provides assurance about their quality, safety and reliability.<br />For everyone, International Standards contribute to the quality of life in general by ensuring that the transport, machinery and tools we use are safe.<br />For the planet we inhabit, International Standards on air, water and soil quality, on emissions of gases and radiation and environmental aspects of products can contribute to efforts to preserve the environment. <br />The ISO brand<br />Democratic<br />Every full member of ISO has the right to take part in the development of any standard which it judges to be important to its country's economy. No matter what the size or strength of that economy, each participating member in ISO has one vote. Each country is on an equal footing to influence the direction of ISO's work at the strategic level, as well as the technical content of its individual standards. <br />Voluntary<br />ISO standards are voluntary. As a non-governmental organization, ISO has no legal authority to enforce the implementation of its standards. ISO does not regulate or legislate. However, countries may decide to adopt ISO standards - mainly those concerned with health, safety or the environment - as regulations or refer to them in legislation, for which they provide the technical basis. In addition, although ISO standards are voluntary, they may become a market requirement, as has happened in the case of ISO 9001 quality management systems, or of dimensions of freight containers and bank cards.<br />ISO itself does not regulate or legislate.<br />Market-driven<br />ISO only develops standards for which there is a market requirement. The work is mainly carried out by experts from the industrial, technical and business sectors which have asked for the standards, and which subsequently put them to use.<br />Consensus<br />ISO standards are based on international consensus among the experts in the field. Consensus, like technology, evolves and ISO takes account both of evolving technology and of evolving interests by requiring a periodic review of its standards at least every five years to decide whether they should be maintained, updated or withdrawn. In this way, ISO standards retain their position as the state of the art.<br />Globally relevant<br />ISO standards are technical agreements which provide the framework for compatible technology worldwide. They are designed to be globally relevant - useful everywhere in the world. <br />ISO standards are useful everywhere in the world.<br />How to recognize an ISO standard<br />In paper form, an ISO standard is published in A4 format - which is itself one of the ISO standard paper sizes. It may be anywhere between a four-page document and one several hundred pages' long. ISO standards are also available as electronic downloads and many are available as part of a collection on CD or in handbook. An ISO standard carries the ISO logo and the designation, quot;
International Standardquot;
.<br />The scope of ISO's work<br />ISO has more than 18 000 International Standards and other types of normative documents in its current portfolio. ISO's work programme ranges from standards for traditional activities, such as agriculture and construction, through mechanical engineering, manufacturing and distribution, to transport, medical devices, information and communication technologies, and to standards for good management practice and for services.<br />Examples of the benefits standards provide<br />Standardization of screw threads helps to keep chairs, children's bicycles and aircraft together and solves the repair and maintenance problems caused by a lack of standardization that were once a major headache for manufacturers and product users. <br />Standards establishing an international consensus on terminology make technology transfer easier and safer. They are an important stage in the advancement of new technologies and dissemination of innovation.<br />Without the standardized dimensions of freight containers, international trade would be slower and more expensive. <br />Without the standardization of telephone and banking cards, life would be more complicated. <br />A lack of standardization may even affect the quality of life itself: for the disabled, for example, when they are barred access to consumer products, public transport and buildings because the dimensions of wheel-chairs and entrances are not standardized.<br />Standardized symbols provide danger warnings and information across linguistic frontiers. <br />Consensus on grades of various materials gives a common reference for suppliers and clients in business dealings.<br />Agreement on a sufficient number of variations of a product to meet most current applications allows economies of scale with cost benefits for both producers and consumers. An example is the standardization of paper sizes.<br />Standardization of performance or safety requirements of diverse equipment makes sure that users' needs are met while allowing individual manufacturers the freedom to design their own solution on how to meet those needs. <br />Standardized computer protocols allow products from different vendors to quot;
talkquot;
to each other. <br />Standardized documents speed up the transit of goods, or identify sensitive or dangerous cargoes that may be handled by people speaking different languages. <br />Standardization of connections and interfaces of all types ensures the compatibility of equipment of diverse origins and the interoperability of different technologies. <br />Agreement on test methods allows meaningful comparisons of products, or plays an important part in controlling pollution - whether by noise, vibration or emissions. <br />Safety standards for machinery protect people at work, at play, at sea... and at the dentist's.<br />Without the international agreement contained in ISO standards on metric quantities and units, shopping and trade would be haphazard, science would be unscientific and technological development would be handicapped.<br />For more examples of the many areas of life and work where ISO standards provide technical, economic and social benefits, visit The ISO Café.<br />What's different about ISO 9001 and ISO 14001<br />The vast majority of ISO standards are highly specific to a particular product, material, or process. However, ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environment) are quot;
generic management system standardsquot;
. quot;
Genericquot;
means that the same standard can be applied to any organization, large or small, whatever its product or service, in any sector of activity, and whether it is a business enterprise, a public administration, or a government department. ISO 9001 contains a generic set of requirements for implementing a quality management system and ISO 14001 for an environmental management system. <br />Generic standards can be applied to any organization.<br />Why conformity assessment is important<br />quot;
Conformity assessmentquot;
means checking that products, materials, services, systems, processes or people measure up to the specifications of a relevant standard or specification. Today, many products require testing for conformity with specifications or compliance with safety, or other regulations before they can be put on many markets. ISO guides and standards for conformity assessment represent an international consensus on best practice. Their use contributes to the consistency of conformity assessment worldwide and so facilitates trade.<br />See ISO's Conformity assessment pages for more detailed information.<br />What quot;
international standardizationquot;
means<br />When the large majority of products or services in a particular business or industry sector conform to International Standards, a state of industry-wide standardization exists. The economic stakeholders concerned agree on specifications and criteria to be applied consistently in the classification of materials, in the manufacture and supply of products, in testing and analysis, in terminology and in the provision of services. In this way, International Standards provide a reference framework, or a common technological language, between suppliers and their customers. This facilitates trade and the transfer of technology.<br />ISO's origins<br />In 1946, delegates from 25 countries met in London and decided to create a new international organization, of which the object would be quot;
to facilitate the international coordination and unification of industrial standardsquot;
. The new organization, ISO, officially began operations on 23 February 1947, in Geneva, Switzerland.<br />Read The ISO Story for a historical perspective of ISO.<br />Who can join ISO<br />Membership of ISO is open to national standards institutes most representative of standardization in their country (one member in each country). <br />Full members, known as member bodies, each have one vote, whatever the size or strength of the economy of the country concerned. <br />Correspondent members pay reduced membership fees. They are entitled to participate in any policy or technical body as observers, with no voting rights. <br />Subscriber members also pay reduced membership fees. They are institutes from countries with very small economies that nevertheless wish to maintain contact with international standardization.<br />Although individuals or enterprises are not eligible for membership, both have a range of opportunities for taking part in ISO's work:<br />Individuals may be selected by national member institutes to serve as experts on national delegations participating in ISO technical committees<br />Individuals and enterprises may provide their input during the process of developing a national consensus for presentation by the delegation. This may done through national mirror committees to the corresponding ISO technical committee<br />International organizations and associations, both non-governmental and representing industry sectors, can apply for liaison status to a technical committee. They do not vote, but can participate in the debates and the development of consensus. <br />There is a range of opportunities for taking part in ISO's work.<br />How the ISO system is managed<br />All strategic decisions are referred to the ISO members, who meet for an annual General Assembly. The proposals put to the members are developed by the ISO Council, drawn from the membership as a whole, which resembles the board of directors of a business organization. <br />ISO Council meets twice a year and its membership is rotated to ensure that it is representative of ISO's membership. <br />ISO's operations are managed by a Secretary-General, which is a permanent appointment resembling the chief executive of a business enterprise. The Secretary-General reports to the ISO Council, the latter being chaired by the President who is a prominent figure in standardization or in business, elected for two years. <br />The Secretary-General is based at ISO Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, with a compact staff which provides administrative and technical support to the ISO members, coordinates the decentralized standards' development programme, and publishes the output.<br />How the ISO system is financed<br />ISO's national members pay subscriptions that meet the operational cost of ISO's Central Secretariat. The subscription paid by each member is in proportion to the country's Gross National Income and trade figures. Another source of revenue is the sale of standards.<br />However, the operations of ISO Central Secretariat represent only about one fifth of the cost of the system's operation. The main costs are borne by the member bodies that manage the specific standards development projects and the business organizations that provide experts to participate in the technical work. These organizations are, in effect, subsidizing the technical work by paying the travel costs of the experts and allowing them time to work on their ISO assignments.<br />How ISO decides to develop a standard<br />ISO launches the development of new standards in response to the sectors that express a clearly established need for them. An industry or business sector communicates its requirement for a standard to one of ISO's national members. The latter then proposes the new work item to ISO as a whole. If accepted, the work item is assigned to an existing technical committee. Proposals may also be made to set up technical committees to cover new scopes of activity. <br />At the end of 2006, there were 3 041 technical bodies in the ISO system, including 193 ISO technical committees.<br />The focus of the technical committees is specialized and specific. In addition, ISO has three general policy development committees that provide strategic guidance for the standards' development work on cross-sector aspects. These committees ensure that the specific technical work is aligned with broader market and stakeholder group interests. They are: <br />CASCO (conformity assessment)<br />COPOLCO (consumer policy), and<br />DEVCO (developing country matters)<br />Who develops ISO standards<br />ISO standards are developed by technical committees comprising experts from the industrial, technical and business sectors which have asked for the standards, and which subsequently put them to use. These experts may be joined by representatives of government agencies, testing laboratories, consumer associations, non-governmental organizations and academic circles.<br />The experts participate as national delegations, chosen by the ISO national member institute for the country concerned. These delegations are required to represent not just the views of the organizations in which their participating experts work, but of other stakeholders too.<br />According to ISO rules, the member institute is expected to take account of the views of the range of parties interested in the standard under development. This enables them to present a consolidated, national consensus position to the technical committee.<br />ISO standards are developed by experts from the sectors which have asked for them.<br />How ISO standards are developed<br />The national delegations of experts of a technical committee meet to discuss, debate and argue until they reach consensus on a draft agreement. This is circulated as a Draft International Standard (DIS) to ISO's membership as a whole for comment and balloting. <br />Many members have public review procedures for making draft standards known and available to interested parties and to the general public. The ISO members then take account of any feedback they receive in formulating their position on the draft standard. <br />If the voting is in favour, the document, with eventual modifications, is circulated to the ISO members as a Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). If that vote is positive, the document is then published as an International Standard. <br />Every working day of the year, an average of eight ISO meetings are taking place somewhere in the world. In between meetings, the experts continue the standards' development work by correspondence. Increasingly, their contacts are made by electronic means and some ISO technical bodies have already gone over entirely to working electronically, which speeds up the development of standards and cuts travel costs.<br />See Stages of the development of an International Standard for more detail of the development process.<br />ISO's international partners<br />ISO collaborates with its partners in international standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The three organizations, all based in Geneva, Switzerland, have formed the World Standards Cooperation (WSC) to act as a strategic focus for collaboration and the promotion of international standardization. <br />ISO has a close relationship with the World Trade Organization (WTO) which particularly appreciates the contribution of ISO's standards to reducing technical barriers to trade.<br />ISO collaborates with the United Nations (UN) Organization and its specialized agencies and commissions, particularly those involved in the harmonization of regulations and public policies, such as:<br />CODEX Alimentarius, on food safety measurement, management and traceability<br />UN Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE), on the safety of motor vehicles and the transportation of dangerous goods<br />World Health Organization (WHO), on health technologies<br />International Maritime Organization (IMO), on transport security<br />World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), on the quality of services related to tourism.<br />In addition, ISO cooperates with UN organizations that provide assistance and support to developing countries, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC).<br />ISO's technical committees have formal liaison relations with over 600 international and regional organizations.<br />ISO has reinforced its links, too, with international organizations representing different groups of stakeholders, including:<br />World Economic Forum (WEF)<br />Consumers International (CI)<br />World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and<br />International Federation of Standards Users (IFAN).<br />Lastly, ISO also collaborates regularly with the major international organizations for metrology, quality and conformity assessment.<br />ISO's regional partners<br />Many of ISO's members also belong to regional standardization organizations. ISO has recognized regional standards organizations representing Africa, the Arab countries, the area covered by the Commonwealth of Independent States, Europe, Latin America, the Pacific area, and the South-East Asia nations. The regional bodies (listed below) commit themselves to adopt ISO standards as the national standards of their members.<br />African Regional Organization for Standardization (ARSO)<br />Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organization (AIDMO)<br />European Committee for Standardization (CEN)<br />Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT)<br />Euro Asian Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification (EASC)<br />Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC)<br />ASEAN Consultative Committee for Standards and Quality (ACCSQ)<br />