ISO

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards.ISO is not a government entity.It is an organization dedicated to forming a bridge between the public consumer and the private manufacturer.Although the ISO is not run by any governmental entity, many of the standards that are held by the organization correlate to standards that are mandated by respective countries.The ISO is beneficial to both the consumer and the manufacturer because it allows for a consensus to be reached between the two parties.It is interesting to point out that no matter what country you are in the short form of the ISO is always the same (not an acronym translated to match the language of each respective country).

ISO provides us all with the positive service of establishing standards that are meant to ensure desirable characteristics of products and services such as quality, environmental friendliness, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability - and at an economical cost.It may take the absence of the ISO to notice just how influential its standards are to everyday consumption.Imagine going to the store and unknowingly purchasing products of poor quality, products that do not fit, that are incompatible with equipment that we already have, of that are unreliable or dangerous, and having no say in the matter.We would be furious!When products, systems, machinery and devices work as they were designed and do so in a safe manner it is usually because somewhere down the line the product and the steps taken to make the product met the ISO standards.

Those who are in the manufacturing business and who may be held to the responsibility of following ISO standards may feel like these standards are a burden.However, without the standards, you may be surprised at just how many aspects of the manufacturing process become more complicated.Rules and standards often times make our jobs as consumers and as plant workers more simple and logical.ISO standards make the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner.ISO standards also make it possible to facilitate fair trade between countries.ISO standards provide governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation, and conformity assessment.Those working for the ISO are able to share technological advances and good management practice or in other words, they have and provide the tools needed to disseminate innovation and ultimately provide your company with the information needed to compete on an international scale.The ISO works to protect the general public by safeguarding consumers from products and services that do not meet reasonably acceptable standards.ISO standards, rules and regulations actually make operations more simply by providing a set of solutions for common problems.

Ultimately, ISO standards provide technological, economic and societal benefits.For business owners, ISO cooperation means an ability to offer products and services to a global market.For manufacturers the ISO helps to standardize technical aspects like terminology, compatibility and safety.Customers benefit from the ISO when they have the ability to widen their range of consumption choices because they know that they will benefit from companies who can provide products and services that meet a standard that is the same no matter what country they live in.Governments benefit from the ISO because they have a secondary entity there ensuring that manufacturers are abiding by health and safety legislation.Those in trade benefit from ISO because it gives everyone an opportunity to compete on an equal playing field.Regardless of whether you live in a developing country or a country that is a thriving global market leader, the ISO standards are the same and the products that conform to those regulations should be of acceptable quality, safety and reliability.