What is a standard?

A standard is a document that provides requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics that

can be used consistently to ensure that materials, products, processes and services are fit for their
purpose.

International Standards make things work. They give world-class specifications for products, services
and systems, to ensure quality, safety and efficiency. They are instrumental in facilitating international
trade.

About ISO

ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 170 national

standards bodies. Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop
voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and
provide solutions to global challenges.

Founded on 23 February 1947, the organization promotes worldwide proprietary, industrial and
commercial standards. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland,[5] and as of 2015 works in 170
countries

It's all in the name

Because 'International Organization for Standardization' would have different acronyms in different
languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), our founders
decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the Greek isos, meaning equal. Whatever the
country, whatever the language, we are always ISO.

How does ISO develop standards?

Our standards are developed by the people that need them, through a consensus process. Experts from
all over the world develop the standards that are required by their sector. This means they reflect a
wealth of international experience and knowledge.

What are the benefits of ISO International Standards?

ISO International Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality. For
business, they are strategic tools that reduce costs by minimizing waste and errors, and increasing
productivity. They help companies to access new markets, level the playing field for developing
countries and facilitate free and fair global trade.

ISO has over 21000 International Standards covering almost all aspects of technology and business. All
standards can be found in the ISO store.

It's all in the name

Because 'International Organization for Standardization' would have different acronyms in different
languages (IOS in English, OIN in French for Organisation internationale de normalisation), our founders
decided to give it the short form ISO. ISO is derived from the Greek isos, meaning equal. Whatever the
country, whatever the language, we are always ISO.

BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION

Each standard supports its own benefits within every industry, however the common benefits across the
certifications include: widened market potential, compliance to procurement tenders, improved
efficiency and cost savings, higher level of customer service, and therefore satisfaction, and heightened
staff moral and motivation.

By having a recognized management standard it tells your customers that you are serious about their
needs.

WHY OBTAIN ISO CERTIFICATION?

There are three main reasons why companies adopt an ISO management system:

To increase success on public and private tenders

To improve internal efficiency and reduce costs

Subliminal marketing – by showing our logo on your marketing you prove to your prospective clients you
are credible.

Popular standards

ISO 9000 - Quality management

Make sure your products and services meet customers' needs with this family of standards.

ISO 14000 - Environmental management

Improve your environmental performance with this family of standards.

ISO 45001 - Occupational Health and Safety

Reduce workplace risks and create safer working environments.

ISO/IEC 27001 - Information security

Ensure your organization's information is secure with this family of standards.

ISO 26000 - Social responsibility

Help your organization to operate in a socially responsible way with this standard.

ISO 50001 - Energy management

Make energy savings and help make your organization more efficient with this standard.

ISO 3166 - Country codes

Avoid confusion when referring to countries and their subdivisions with this standard.

ISO 4217 - Currency codes

Avoid confusion when referring to world currencies with this standard.

ISO 639 - Language codes

Describe languages in an internationally accepted way with this standard.

ISO 22000 - Food safety management

Inspire confidence in your food products with this family of standards.

ISO 20121 - Sustainable events

Manage the social, economic and environmental impacts of your event with this standard.

ISO 13485 - Medical devices

Manage quality throughout the life cycle of a medical device.

ISO 31000 - Risk management

Manage risks that could be negative for your company’s performance with this standard.

ISO 37001 - Anti-bribery management systems

Prevent, detect and address bribery.

ISO 8601 - Date and time format

Use an internationally accepted way to represent dates and times.

HOW WE WORK

One of the first steps in your Management System transition or implementation project is to compare
your current systems to the requirements of the ISO / BS standards. On receiving your instructions ISO
Quality Services will arrange for one of our senior assessors to spend some time with you to undertake
an in depth analysis of the activities of your business that directly affect the required standard. A
detailed action plan for the entire project is then drawn up and agreed.

We then leave you in peace to continue with your normal activities while we prepare your Manuals and
all other relevant documentation. These documents are then presented and explained to you and any
non compliance remedial action is verified. You will then be presented with your ISO / BS certificate,
manuals, logos and your registration number.

The Certification process takes approximately 6 weeks from initial assessment. Once certified you are
provided with on-going telephone/email support. The standard is then monitored by our auditing
partner, who will conduct an internal review after 6 months and the validation audit annually.

Key principles in standard development

1. ISO standards respond to a need in the market

ISO does not decide when to develop a new standard, but responds to a request from industry or other
stakeholders such as consumer groups. Typically, an industry sector or group communicates the need
for a standard to its national member who then contacts ISO. Contact details for national members can
be found in the list of members.

2. ISO standards are based on global expert opinion

ISO standards are developed by groups of experts from all over the world, that are part of larger groups
called technical committees. These experts negotiate all aspects of the standard, including its scope, key
definitions and content. Details can be found in the list of technical committees.

3. ISO standards are developed through a multi-stakeholder process

The technical committees are made up of experts from the relevant industry, but also from consumer
associations, academia, NGOs and government. Read more about who develops ISO standards.

4. ISO standards are based on a consensus

Developing ISO standards is a consensus-based approach and comments from all stakeholders are taken
into account.

Certification...

Certification can be a useful tool to add credibility, by demonstrating that your product or service meets
the expectations of your customers. For some industries, certification is a legal or contractual
requirement.

ISO does not perform certification.

At ISO, we develop International Standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, but we are not involved in
their certification, and do not issue certificates. This is performed by external certification bodies, thus a
company or organization cannot be certified by ISO.

However ISO's Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) has produced a number of standards
related to the certification process, which are used by certification bodies.
Certification – the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the
product, service or system in question meets specific requirements.

Accreditation – the formal recognition by an independent body, generally known as an accreditation

body, that a certification body operates according to international standards.