What is ISO?

Many organizations first encounter with the term ISO is when a customer of theirs requires them to
produce evidence of certification to the Quality Management Standard known as ISO !!"# Since ISO
!!" is the $iggest selling ISO document and possi$ly the most widely known% it would $e easy to think
that it is the only document pu$lished $y ISO# &othing% however% is further from the truth#
'he organization commonly known as (ISO) $egan in "*+ as the International ,ederation of the &ational
Standardizing -ssociations .IS-/# 'he organization works on standards with the aim of encouraging and
ena$ling trade $etween mem$er countries# 0uring the Second 1orld 1ar% the organization was
dissolved% $ut was re2organized under the .correct/ current name% the International Organization for
Standardization% in "3+#
(ISO) is a voluntary organization whose mem$ers are recognized authorities on standards% each one
representing one country% of which there are "+*% including the -merican &ational Standards Institute
.-&SI/% the 4ritish Standards Institute .4SI/ and the 5anadian Standards -ssociation .5S-/# 'he $ulk of
the work of ISO is done $y the *6!! technical committees% su$committees% and working groups# 7ach
committee and su$committee is headed $y a Secretariat from one of the mem$er organizations# -s an
e8ample% the committee which presides over ISO !!" is 'echnical 5ommittee ('5) "6+% the secretariat
is 4SI#
ISOs main products are international standards% as well as technical reports% technical specifications%
pu$licly availa$le specifications% technical corrigenda% and guides#
'he International Organization is funded $y a com$ination of
Organizations that manage the specific pro9ects or loan e8perts to participate in the technical
work#
Su$scriptions from mem$er $odies .:the national $ody most representative of standardization in
its country/# 'hese su$scriptions are in proportion to each country;s <0= and trade figures#
Sales of the standards created $y the technical committees#

'he standards they create and pu$lish cover an incredi$le variety of topics% for e8ample> ISO 3? covers
"! documents associated with vehicle engineering% and ISO @6 has A documents applica$le to paint and
color industries# 'hey are named ISO since this word means (equal) or (uniform and has its etymology in
the <reek word (Isos) also meaning equal# Mem$er countries often have dual num$ering of their
standards% $ut the content of each ISO standard is common#
ISO documents are copyrighted# 'he International Organization does not% however% charge for most draft
copies of documents in electronic format# 5are must $e taken using these drafts as there is the possi$ility
of su$stantial change $efore it $ecomes finalized as a standard# 'here is a well defined process of
creating% drafting% validating and controlling all documents the Organization produces#
ISO !!" was pu$lished in "@6 for use as a common set of requirements to assure a quality product% in
an increasingly glo$al market# 4ased on the 4ritish Standard (4S A6A!) it came in several parts% ISO
!!"% !!* and !!?% with guidance and also referenced ISO @3!* as a voca$ulary document# It was
originally intended for use $y purchasing organizations as part of supply chain agreements with suppliers%
as a means to define the $asic requirements for giving confidence that products would meet the intended
specifications#
Shortly after its pu$lication and% as a result of a 4ritish <overnment 1hite =aper on competitiveness% the
idea of independent 5ertification 4odies was launched% as an option to reduce the costs and disruption
associated with multiple supplier audits% to the same .$asic/ set of quality requirements# -nd so%
accredited% independent certification grew to $e the most popular way to attract customers who are
seeking to ensure a consistent supply of quality products and services# 'his fact alone has $rought ISO
into the voca$ulary of many more people who would not have known of the e8istence of the organization#
Bow many other ISO standards have you heard a$outC