When an organization seeks to improve the performance of its quality management system, the first step it should take is to check whether there is an ISO publication that can assist and support this highly specific task.
An ISO standard is nothing more than something established as a rule, example, or benchmark. Standards are part of our daily lives, and in the case of those published by ISO, they are internationally agreed upon by groups of experts in the subject matter covered by the document. We could say, therefore, that a standard is simply the best way to do something, as defined by industry experts.
Standards contain technical specifications or other precise criteria designed to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions. They represent a repeatable, harmonized, agreed-upon, and documented way of doing things.
Now that we understand what a standard is, let’s clarify what ISO is.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental international organization that publishes a vast catalog of proprietary standards. It is composed of representatives from various national standardization bodies.
ISO issues several types of publications. Let’s examine them one by one:
- Standards containing requirements (called "norms"): These are international standards, with the most famous examples being ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, to name just two. They are used for organizational certification by national and international bodies and require international consensus for publication. An international standard provides rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their outcomes, aiming to achieve optimal order within a given context. The requirements in these standards can be implemented and, if desired, verified by third parties to assess compliance. Beyond management system standards, there are also product standards, test methods, etc.
- Technical specifications: These can be of two types: technical reports (which share information from specific studies) or actual technical specifications containing technical details. Both may evolve into full standards, as they often represent works still under technical development and are sometimes released for feedback.
- Guidance documents: Examples include ISO 19011, which provide assistance in interpreting and implementing standards. These documents do not contain requirements and thus cannot be used for certification.
ISO standards are critical for organizations because they enable work based on a set of requirements, ensuring processes, procedures, and policies that create an environment capable of delivering consistent products. All forms of standards are used worldwide to support and strengthen markets, promote research, industry, government, and organizations, protect the environment, and provide vital information on consumer health and safety.