International Organization for Standardization

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 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.

History

The ISO was established on 23 February 1947 with the aim of facilitating the international coordination and unification of industrial standards. Since then, it has published over 23,000 international standards covering almost all aspects of technology and manufacturing.

Structure

The organization follows a democratic structure where each member country is represented in the ISO General Assembly. The General Assembly is the highest authority of ISO. The operations are managed by the Central Secretariat based in Geneva, Switzerland. The work on standards is carried out by technical committees, subcommittees, and working groups, composed of industry experts, nominated by the member bodies.

Function and Principles

ISO operates based on the principle that each member country has one vote, regardless of the country's size or economic strength. This ensures that all voices are heard and that the development of standards is balanced and reflects mutual interests. The organization develops standards in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to, quality, safety, efficiency, interoperability, and environmental sustainability.

Standards Development

The process of developing an ISO standard is divided into six stages:

1. Proposal stage
2. Preparatory stage
3. Committee stage
4. Enquiry stage
5. Approval stage
6. Publication

During these stages, the draft standards are circulated among the member bodies for comments and voting. This process ensures that the standards are globally relevant and can be implemented worldwide.

Notable Standards

Some of the most well-known and widely implemented ISO standards include:

• ISO 9001: Quality management systems
• ISO 14001: Environmental management systems
• ISO 27001: Information security management systems
• ISO 45001: Occupational health and safety management systems

Impact

The adoption of ISO standards facilitates international trade by ensuring compatibility and interoperability of products, services, and systems. This not only helps businesses to enter new markets but also contributes to making the development, manufacturing, and supply processes more efficient, safer, and cleaner.

Criticism

Despite its significant contributions, ISO has faced criticism for the perceived complexity and cost of implementing its standards, especially by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). There are also concerns about the organization's transparency and the influence of large corporations in the standards development process.

See Also

• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)