What Does ISO Mean? Unpacking International Standards

In today’s interconnected world, you’ve likely encountered the term ISO, especially in relation to product quality or business processes. But What Does Iso Mean exactly? ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization. It’s not an acronym, but a word derived from the Greek “isos,” meaning “equal.” This organisation plays a crucial role in setting global benchmarks across numerous industries, ensuring consistency, safety, and efficiency.

Decoding ISO: The International Organisation for Standardization Explained

The International Organization for Standardization is a non-governmental entity made up of national standards bodies from over 160 countries. Think of it as a global network where each member country, like the British Standards Institution (BSI) for the UK or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for the USA, represents their nation’s standards interests.

The core purpose of ISO is to facilitate international trade and collaboration by developing and publishing international standards. These standards cover an enormous range of topics, from technology and manufacturing to food safety, agriculture, and healthcare. ISO itself doesn’t enforce these standards, but rather provides a framework of best practices and requirements that organisations can choose to adopt. These documents, detailing the standards, are then made available for purchase.

The highest decision-making body within ISO is the General Assembly, composed of representatives from each member body and elected principal officers. The central operations are managed from the ISO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, by a central secretariat.

The ISO Standards Development Process: From Idea to Publication

Creating an ISO standard is a rigorous and collaborative process, ensuring that the final document is robust, relevant, and widely accepted. ISO employs a structured six-stage process for standards development:

• Proposal Stage: The journey begins when a need for a new standard is identified, often initiated by industry associations or consumer groups. The relevant ISO technical committee assesses the proposal to determine if a new standard is indeed necessary and feasible.
• Preparatory Stage: If the proposal is approved, a working group of subject matter experts and industry stakeholders is formed. This group drafts a working draft of the new standard. Once the working group is satisfied with the draft, the parent committee decides on the next step.
• Committee Stage: This stage is optional but often crucial. The parent committee members review the working draft, providing feedback and suggestions. This iterative process continues until a consensus is reached on the technical content.
• Enquiry Stage: The refined draft becomes a Draft International Standard (DIS) and is circulated to all ISO member bodies for comment and voting. If the DIS receives approval at this stage without any technical revisions, it proceeds directly to publication as an ISO standard.
• Approval Stage: If the DIS requires further technical modifications based on the enquiry stage feedback, it is revised and submitted as a Final Draft International Standard (FDIS). Members then vote on the FDIS.
• Publication Stage: If the FDIS is approved by a two-thirds majority of participating members and no more than a quarter oppose, the new standard is officially published as an ISO standard.

ISO 9000 quality management principles

Caption: ISO 9000 standards provide a framework for quality management systems, helping organisations consistently meet customer and regulatory requirements.

ISO Certification: Ensuring Standards are Met

While ISO develops the standards, it doesn’t directly carry out ISO certification. Certification is the process by which a third-party, accredited certification body verifies that an organisation’s product, service, or system conforms to the requirements of a specific ISO standard. This provides assurance to customers and stakeholders that the certified entity meets internationally recognised benchmarks.

It’s important to note the correct terminology. ISO advises against using the phrase “ISO certified” in general terms. Instead, they recommend specifying the exact standard and version, for example, “certified to ISO 9001:2015”. This clarifies precisely which standard the certification relates to, and the year of the standard’s release.

Although ISO itself is not a certification body, its Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) develops standards and guidance related to the certification process, ensuring its integrity and global consistency.

Why Businesses Pursue ISO Certification

Achieving ISO certification can be a significant undertaking for businesses, involving time and resources. However, the benefits often outweigh the investment. Organisations seek ISO certification for various compelling reasons:

• Regulatory Compliance: In some sectors, certification to specific ISO standards is a legal or regulatory requirement for products or services to be placed on the market.
• Industry Benchmarking: Even when not mandated by law, ISO standards often serve as de facto industry benchmarks. Certification demonstrates a commitment to quality and best practices, essential for competing in certain markets.
• Customer Expectations: Many customers, particularly larger organisations and government agencies, prefer or even require their suppliers to be ISO certified as a condition of doing business. It provides confidence in the reliability and quality of the products or services.
• Improved Operational Consistency and Efficiency: Implementing ISO standards, such as ISO 9001 for quality management, helps organisations streamline processes, reduce errors, and improve consistency across different departments and locations, including international operations.
• Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: By adhering to ISO standards focused on quality and customer satisfaction, organisations can deliver more consistent products and services, leading to improved customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.

For example, a company seeking ISO 9001:2015 certification would typically need to:

1. Thoroughly understand the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard.
2. Identify areas within their operations that don’t currently meet the standard.
3. Document processes, procedures, and plans to address these gaps.
4. Implement the documented ISO 9001 compliant system.
5. Conduct internal audits to verify compliance before the external certification audit.
6. Undergo a formal certification audit by an accredited certification body.

ISO and IEC: Collaboration in Electrotechnical Standards

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is another prominent international standards body, focusing specifically on standards for electrical, electronic, and related technologies. ISO and IEC collaborate closely, along with other organisations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the IEEE, to ensure comprehensive global standards coverage.

Standards developed jointly by ISO and IEC are identified with the prefix “ISO/IEC”. A well-known example is ISO/IEC 27001:2013, which specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS).

Other popular joint ISO/IEC standards include:

• ISO/IEC 7498: The foundation for the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, a conceptual framework for network communication protocols.
• ISO/IEC 27000 family: A comprehensive suite of standards covering information security management systems and related topics.
• ISO/IEC 31000 family: Provides principles and guidelines for implementing and managing risk management frameworks across various types of organisations.

A Brief History of ISO: From Post-War Vision to Global Impact

ISO’s origins can be traced back to the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (ISA), which operated from 1928 to 1942. Following World War II, ISA members and the United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee recognised the critical need for greater international cooperation on standards.

In 1946, they convened a meeting that led to the formation of ISO as a non-governmental organisation the following year. ISO published its first standard, ISO/R 1:1951 (Standard Reference Temperature for Industrial Length Measurements), in 1951. This standard is now known as ISO 1:2016. By 2021, ISO had published over 24,000 standards, demonstrating its vast and ever-expanding impact on global industries and societies.

In conclusion, ISO is far more than just a set of initials. It represents a powerful global collaboration that underpins international trade, technological innovation, and best practices across countless sectors. Understanding what ISO means is crucial for businesses, consumers, and anyone navigating the complexities of the modern, interconnected world.