ISO
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▷ About ISO
ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the largest global body for developing and publishing international standards.
It operates as a network of national standards organizations from 162 countries, with one member representing each country. Its Central Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland, overseeing the coordination of the system.
ISO is a non-governmental organization that acts as a bridge between the public and private sectors. Many of its member institutes are part of their respective governments or operate under governmental mandates, while others are rooted in the private sector, having been established by national industry associations.
Through this structure, ISO facilitates the development of consensus solutions that meet both business requirements and broader societal needs.
▷ Why Standards Matter
Standards play a crucial and positive role in nearly every aspect of our daily lives.
They ensure that products and services maintain desirable qualities such as quality, environmental sustainability, safety, reliability, efficiency, and compatibility—all at an affordable cost.
While we often take for granted when products meet our expectations, we notice when they fail to do so. The absence of standards becomes apparent when products are of poor quality, do not fit, are incompatible with existing equipment, or prove to be unreliable or dangerous.
In contrast, products, systems, machinery, and devices that function well and safely often do so because they comply with established standards. ISO is the organization behind many of these globally beneficial standards.
▷ Why Conformity Assessment Is Important
“Conformity assessment” refers to the process of verifying that products, materials, services, systems, processes, or individuals meet the requirements of relevant standards or specifications.
Today, many products must undergo testing for conformity with safety regulations or other specifications before they can be sold in certain markets. ISO’s guidelines and standards for conformity assessment reflect an international consensus on best practices, promoting consistency in global conformity assessments and facilitating international trade.
▷ What "International Standardization" Means
When the majority of products or services in a specific industry or business sector align with International Standards, it indicates that industry-wide standardization is in place. Economic stakeholders across the sector agree on consistent specifications and criteria for classifying materials, manufacturing and supplying products, conducting testing and analysis, establishing terminology, and delivering services.
International Standards serve as a reference framework or a common technological language between suppliers and customers. This consistency promotes trade and the exchange of technology.