All we hear is ISO Standard, ISO auditors, ISO certification! What exactly is ISO and what does it stand for?
International Organization for Standardization
The Acronym
ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, which is really IOS, so where has ISO come from then?
International Organization for Standardization is obviously international and therefore due to different languages used it would be a different acronym for different countries. Due to this, it was decided by the founders to use the term ISO, which is from Greek origin of isos, meaning equal. So, no matter which country you are in or language spoken it is always ‘equal’.
Who is ISO?
ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization. It has a membership of 162 national standards bodies and brings together experts to develop relevant International Standards while providing solutions for global changes. ISO was formed in 1946.
ISO Standards
ISO Standards are developed to provide international standards and specifications for products, services and systems. They are influential in enabling international trade. There are more than 19000 International Standards across almost every industry including technology, food, agriculture and healthcare. ISO Standards ensure that products and services are safe, reliable and good quality.
ISO Certification
Why do organizations become certified to an international standard? Certification is not normally a legal requirement however it is useful to provide credibility through demonstrating that your product or service meets the expectations of customers, of occupational health and safety requirements or an organizations environmental performance.
It is a strategic tool that controls costs by reducing waste and errors while improving productivity. In some industries it is a contractual or customer requirement to be certified.
Certification is performed by external independent organizations called certification bodies.
Read all about ISO on their website - www.iso.org
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