ISO Certification

ISO Certification:
Increasingly, more and more companies around the world find it a good business move to get an ISO certification. This certification conveys that the company or organization is following best production and managerial practices, preventing waste and promoting eco-friendly methods, and produces goods that meet international quality and safety standards. With an ISO certification, it becomes easier to expand your business across global markets.

Understanding ISO:
Let us see what ISO is. The term 'ISO' is derived from 'isos', which is Greek for 'equal'. It is an appropriate title for the International Organization for Standardization and was adopted by it to avoid the confusion of a variety of acronyms arising from the translation of the organization's name into different worldwide languages.

The ISO is based in Geneva, Switzerland, where it has its Central Secretariat, and it has members from 157 countries. Each country is allowed one member and this member is not an individual, but a leading national standards institute of that country, which may be from the governmental sector or from the private sector and may or may not have been mandated by the government.

The ISO itself is a non-governmental organization (NGO) and does not set up or regulate any standards. It only proposes the standards. It is left up to the member countries whether they implement them or not and in what manner.

All ISO members are on an equal footing, whatever the size of their national economy, and they each can exercise one vote. Members meet several times a year to discuss and take decisions on standards. The rest of the time they keep in touch through email and phone.

History of the ISO:
The ISO had its origins in the British Military standards set up to regulate and increase production during the Second World War. After a series of explosions in armament factories, the need for having set standards for production was realized. After the war, in 1947, the ISO as an independent organization was formed.

The Usefulness of ISO standards:
ISO standards are helpful in the following ways -

• They provide a standard guide for the manufacture of products.
• They promote efficiency and safety in the manufacture of products.
• They promote fair trade and efficient trade between countries.
• They provide technological know-how to developing countries, so these countries can spruce up their production methods with the latest technical advances and management practices, are able to meet international market requirements, and can cut down on costs and waste.
• They reassure consumers about the safety and quality of the products/services they are using.

The Importance of having ISO standards:
It is important to have ISO standards for the following reasons -

• The required quality of products and services is established.
• With reliability standards established, you can know what to expect from the products and services you use.
• The required safety rules and regulations are followed.
• Environmental friendly manufacturing methods are followed.
• Having standards in place increases manufacturing efficiency and reduces overall costs.
• Making products, parts, machinery and devices to an established standard promotes interchangeability in use.

The Benefits of ISO standards:
ISO standards benefit us in the following ways -

• If you are running a business, adopting ISO standards means that you are developing and offering products and services that meet accepted international specifications and therefore your products and services will be able to find markets on the international level.
• If you are running a business in a developing country, you can avail of information on the latest technical know-how and best management practices from the other ISO members. You will know what kind of product quality you need to aspire towards in order to compete effectively on the international level. You will know how to better utilize the resources available to you and how to avoid squandering material, manpower and money.
• If you are a worker, you can count on safety and reliability in the machinery and tools you use in the workplace if they have been made according to ISO standards.
• If you are an innovator, you don't have to reinvent the wheel from scratch. You can reliably rely on existing products to build your new idea.
• If you are a consumer, you benefit by getting a wider choice of cost-efficient products and services. You are assured of safety and competency in the products/services you use. The TV will work, the bus will get you where you want, the screws will hold the table in place and so on.
• If you're part of the government and involved in making legislations on health, safety and environmental issues, you can avail of the technological and scientific standards established by the ISO.
• If you are a trade official, you don't have to spend time checking if the products are of a certain technical standard. Products made to established ISO standards also facilitate trade agreements between nations.
• If you are a social aware person, you will be glad to know that ISO standards promote 'green' manufacturing methods and adopting those can help bring down pollution levels and help in preserving the planet.

It all sounds terrific, but, on the downside, there is an issue of some companies getting an ISO Certification merely to make themselves more marketable, without actually adhering to the standards.