The International Organization for Standardization is the largest international standards-developing and publishing organization. International standards are essential to ensure radios work in all parts of the globe. These standards are also how we ensure the best practices such as environmental or quality practices are documented and are available to everyone.

Membership

ISO, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has 162 members as of June 2010. These 162 members are standard-making organizations representing 162 countries. The ISO website states that each member can vote on approving a standard with one vote. Thus, the United Kingdom is equal to the Republic of Congo. The ISO system is coordinated by a central secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

Scope

As of June 2010, ISO had published over 18,000 international standards. These standards cover traditional activities like construction and agriculture, mechanical engineering and manufacturing and distribution; transport; medical devices; safety and environmental practices; information technology, and good business practices.

 ISO 9000

The ISO 9000 family standards for quality assurance and management are perhaps the most well-known ISO standards. ISO 9001 is a general standard that applies to all businesses. A tool-and-die shop might be expected to comply with ISO 9001.2008 by larger customers. This ensures that all customers are compliant. Medical device manufacturers and other niche companies must adhere to ISO 9000 standards.

Environmental and Social Standards

The ISO used to be a “nuts and bolts” organization. Now it is a standards-setting organization for corporate social responsibility (ISO 26000) and environmental regulation (ISO 14000).

What is ISO Certification?

If you are a small business owner and plan to bid on projects, especially tenders issued by larger corporations or government agencies, you may be required to obtain ISO certification. There are many types and types of ISO certifications. They all aim to verify that products, services, or processes used by a company conform to accepted international standards.

Tip

These standards can be business management or environmental policies. They can also be standards that have been developed by ISO for specific business segments.

Understanding ISO Standards

Over 22,000 standards have been published by the ISO for products, services, and processes. The ISO 9000 family is the most popular. These standards are used to ensure that products and services meet high standards and are constantly being improved.

The current version of ISO 9001:2015 is available for use by all businesses. It focuses on eight fundamental business principles.

• Customer focus
• Leadership
• Participation of people
• Approach to the process
• Management by system approach
• Continual improvement
• A fact-based approach to decision making
• Mutually beneficial supplier relationships

The ISO 14000 family refers to environmental management and is used by companies that manage waste. Other standards are specific to certain industries and sectors.

• ISO 13485 is for medical devices
• ISO/TS 29001: Oil and Gas Industry
• Software engineering: ISO/IEC 90003
• ISO 17582 is for government electoral bodies
• ISO 18091 is for local governments

You can purchase the documentation required for each of these standards from the ISO or an authorized vendor.

Obtaining ISO Certification

ISO doesn’t certify organizations. You will need to get certified by a third party that will audit your company and determines if your products, processes, and services meet the ISO standards. The ISO 9001 certification is the foundation for many other ISO standards. Costs for certification vary depending on how large your company is. 

The ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment (or CASCO) has standards that organizations that can offer ISO certification to your company should follow. While you may select an organization that meets the requirements of CASCO, not all certifying agents need to be CASCO-accredited.

After your company has been ISO certified, you will receive a certificate from the certification agency. This certificate can be used to advertise to clients or to bid on contracts to prove that your products and services meet the ISO standards.

Best Practice Certification is a leading company for ISO certification that helps your company to get a certificate smoothly.