What is Standardisation ? What are Standards?

Today great emphasis is being laid on organisations following predefined levels of standards in their processes andoperation. But what are standards? How are they useful to an organisations business performance?Standards are documented technical specifications and other defined benchmarks. These specifications are applied as a setof regulations and procedures to ensure that the materials, products, operations and services conform to predefinedrequirements. Standards contribute to the enhancement of the product parameters such as quality, safety, reliability,effectiveness and interchangeability at an optimum cost. The ISO: The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) is an international federation of national standards involving morethan 140 countries. A non-governmental organisation it was set up in 1947. The motto of ISO is to endorse the growth of standardisation worldwide to promote international trade and services. ISO promotes mutual collaboration between variousorganisations in the scientific, technology and economic related activities. Advantages of ISO standards: ISO sets up technical standards (that are voluntary) that help in enhancing various types of organisational processes. Theyaid in the development, production and delivery of products and services in a more effective, secure and cleaner way. ISOstandards also seek to safeguard customer interests.ISO Standards are acknowledged worldwide as the means for manufacturers and service providers to bring about utmostease and effectiveness in trading their products and services. These International Standards provide a benchmark to makethe transfer of technology between suppliers and their customers possible. The evolution of ISO: International standardisation was first initiated in the electro technical area. The International Electro TechnicalCommission (IEC) was established in 1906. The International Federation of the National Standardising Associations (ISA),established in 1926, put in groundbreaking efforts in other areas. ISA focused mainly on mechanical engineering. Itsactivities came to an end in 1942. In 1946, representatives from 25 countries convened in London and decided to form a new international organisation, inorder to make possible the international coordination and integration of organisational standards". The new organisation,ISO, formally became operative on 23 February 1947. ISO standards -The process: ISO has a well-defined process for incorporating standards. First phase:

In any country a business segment puts forward the need for a standard before its national standards institute. The lattersuggests this to the ISO. Once the necessity for an International standard has been acknowledged and officially approved,the technological feasibility of the standard is defined. This stage is usually performed in teams consisting of professionalsfrom those countries that are interested in the particular standard. Second phase: Once the experts reach a conclusion on the technical parameters to be covered in the standard, the participating countriesdiscuss in detail the specifics pertaining to the standard. This is the consensusbuilding phase. Final phase: The final phase comprises of the endorsement of the final draft of the International Standard. This report is subsequentlymade available in print as an ISO International Standard. Many of the standards need regular reviews. Various factors contribute to make a standard obsolete: scientificadvancement, new techniques and equipment, changing trends in quality and safety procedures. To consider these issues,ISO has stipulated that all ISO standards should be evaluated every five years