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ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is one of the world's largest developers of International Standards. It helps the organizations to improve their credibility in the market. These international standards makes things work. Each standard has its own importance in its own way. ISO gives world-class specifications for products, services and systems to ensure quality, safety and efficiency for the organisation.
The term "ISO", a derivative form the Greek word "Isos" meaning "Equal" was first established in the year 1926 as the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations. It was later on changed to ISO.
Since the establishment of ISO in the year 1946, there are as many as 21,000 standards published by the ISO covering almost all industries from technology to agriculture, manufacturing to food safety, and hospitality. They develop a standard based on the requirement of the company or based on the situation in the market. In other words, ISO standards are developed with response to the need in the market, or by a request from an industry or any other stakeholders such as consumer groups.
ISO provides many benefits to the general public along with the companies opting to be an ISO certified company. Economically, ISO standards have accounted for $8.2 billion annual growth in GDP in the UK, and in Canada they have injected over $91 billion into the economy since 1981. ISO helps government in developing the public policy because they act as the international expertise and experience and are also a vital source. Hence, it helps the government in developing the public policy.
Companies/Businesses who are ISO certified experience a high range of efficiency and effectiveness, reductions in cost as their systems and practices are improved. Customer satisfaction also is improved due to this certification. ISO also improves the efficiency, improved safety, quality etc of the organization. Certified businesses also enjoy access to new markets ensuring the compatibility of products and services.
ISO standards touch almost all the aspect of a consumer’s day to day life. These ISO certified businesses also enjoy access to new markets ensuring the compatibility of products and services. ISO standards ensure that products and services are agreed to international ideals, giving their consumers the confidence that all products and services are safe, reliable and most importantly are of good quality.
ISO - The Standards
Fast forwarding to three decades, to 1987, when the ISO published its first quality management standards with the ISO 9000 family. These quality management standards are often used by manufacturers to reassure consumers that they are more into quality oriented and that they create high quality products only. The Standards in ISO 9000 family now have gone on to become some of the most well known, popular and the best selling standards.ISO went digital with its website in the year 1995.
The following year, ISO launched its next standard i.e., Environmental Management System standard, ISO 14001. This standard helps in providing some of the important tools for companies and organizations which helps them to identify and control their environmental impact. This remains as one of the most widely recognized standards as it is more into protecting our environment and related issues across the world.
ISO is about to celebrate its 74th birthday early this year with over 160 members – and they continue to grow and add valuable standards to their library every single day. Is your company considering obtaining a certification to one of the ISO Standards? Quality Pursuit carries easy-to-understand, color-coded, convenient pocket guides to help each member of your team prepare for an audit – and to use as a reference during the auditing process and beyond.
ISO 9001(Quality Management System) & ISO 14001 (Environment Management System) are some of the very well known and famous standards among all the other standards and these are considered as the most important standards to the companies. Now that ISO 45001 has also joined the family of standards.
Conclusion
Whether we realize it or not, ISO standards have improved our day-to-day lives. In the last 70 years, we have seen as many as 21,000 standards being published; all ranging from guidelines, to making the companies improve their efficiency and quality. The ISO will continue to publish and improve upon these standards.
We at Infimind Institute have empaneled auditors/consultants who can help organizations meet their goals of certification. Infimind will also suggest and recommend the best Certification bodies who can be approached for certification.
To know more about the benefits of companies being ISO 9001:2015 Certified, click here to get the in-depth understanding of the same.