What are ISO standards?

ISO stands for the International Standards Organization (ISO). This organization issues certifications for those who meet their standards of quality.

So, what are ISO standards? They are standards that many companies try to meet in order to better their business, quality, and service. ISO standards simply said are a set of international standards that can be used in any type of business and are accepted around the world as proof that a business can provide assured quality.

When a business is ISO certified it shows consumers that they provide quality. The certification process is long and rigorous as the standards are tough. However, if there were no standards, we would soon notice.

Why are ISO standards important?

The ISO standards make an enormous contribution to most aspects of our lives - although very often, that contribution goes unnoticed. It is kind of like when you enter a hotel, rarely do you notice the little extras and cleanliness, but you will always notice when the bed is unmade, the waste basket full etc. It is when there is an absence of standards that their importance is brought home.

One of the reasons for the ISO standards is simply that when products meet our expectations, we tend to take this for granted, and after a time the necessity to meet standards dwindles for the companies as well.

ISO standards play a huge role in raising levels of quality, safety, reliability, efficiency and interchangeability - as well as in providing such benefits at an economical cost.

While, ISO's principal activity is the development of technical standards, ISO is the world's largest developer of standards, and this means they reach far beyond simply the technical world. ISO standards also have important economic and social repercussions, which mean they effect even that which is far from technical.

ISO standards are useful to industrial and business organizations of all types, however, their usefulness does not stop there. It has been shown that the standards they have set are also useful to governments and other regulatory bodies, to trade officials, to conformity assessment professionals, and most especially to the customers. When a business or organization meets the ISO standards set for their particular industry the customer benefits from higher quality.

What are some of the benefits:

1. They provide governments with a technical base for health, safety and environmental legislation. They can do this by setting specific guidelines, which the government can then implement into inspections and safety specifications, and can do so at minimal cost and minimal risk as these standards have been tested and set by ISO.
2. They are useful for structuring and starting new technical companies. By knowing the standards that other companies are meeting, new companies can emerge competitively as they too can meet these internationally known and respected standards.
3. ISO standards are a shield, or a safeguard to consumers, and users in general, of products and services. ISO standards are simply a way of ensuring a certain quality of life is maintained.
4. ISO standards are a safety net. Things for well, have less problems and security issues when there is a specific standard of quality they must meet.

ISO standards are there to make the development, manufacturing and supply of products and services more efficient, safer and cleaner, which benefits all because we have less accident and injury, higher sales, and all around better quality products.

What are ISO standards? The answer: ISO standards are an often unnoticed way of regulating the quality of products, and thus the quality of life for consumers and end-users the world over.

For specific ISO standards for your industry visit the International Standards Organization website at www.ISO.org.