Standardization Sectors
STANDARDS AND STANDARDISATION
Standards Standardisation
What is a standard and how is it developed?
Did you know that millions of businesses and organizations use and apply standards every day? Standards make both our life safer and easier and our working environment comfortable and efficient.
A standard is a document that sets out specific requirements, specifications, guidelines and/or characteristics, which can be used systematically by individuals or organizations to ensure that the materials they use, the products and services they offer, as well as the procedures they create are appropriate for the purpose they are intended for.
To date, nearly 23,000 standards have been created, which record the basic requirements for creating and / or offering a product or service. The standards ensure that the product or service will fully meet the needs and the level of quality expected by their final recipient.
Standards are the result of Standardization. Standardization is a process during which best practices on a subject are gained through experience and research. More specifically, national and international experts, who specialize in a subject, collaborate locally and globally to record all the available experience on a subject; discuss, analyze, research and classify best practices and record them as requirements, specifications , guidelines, features and / or processes in a Standard. The development of a Standard is based on the full consent of experts and is often a long process, with a huge amount of work, discussion and consultation at national and international level.
PROTECTION OF THE GLOBAL FOOD CHAIN
Learn how standards safeguard the quality and safety of our most vital activity.
(https://www.iso.org/standard/65464.html)
ISO 22000: 2018 Requirements for food management systems for organizations whose activities relate to the food chain (Food safety management systems – Requirements for any organization in the food chain)
LEΙSURE TIME AND ACTIVITIES
A wide range of standards ensures the quality and safety of leisure activities and all related products we use for them.
https://www.cencenelec.eu/news/publications/Publications/Standards@play.pdf
EN1836 Standard for sunglasses
HEALTH AND SAFETY
From accident prevention signs to medical devices monitoring vital health signs.
https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/store/en/PUB100343.pdf
ISO 13485 – Quality management standard for medical devices (QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR MEDICAL DEVICES)
More on Standards and Standardization
Strengthen competitiveness through standards
Standards can help small and medium-sized businesses strengthen their competitiveness, increase their profitability and achieve sustainable growth. Standards can be applied to help reduce a company’s operating costs, as well as a tool to meet the legal requirements of the European Union.
The ability of a company to comply with legislative requirements using internationally recognized standards is a very effective way to differentiate itself in a competitive market environment. Furthermore, this ability will enable the company to offer products and/ or service of the highest quality and achieve increased sales and international recognition.
Consumers are gradually becoming more familiar with the terms used by standards, the need of products and/or services to comply with the requirements set by the standards and the CE label. Therefore standards will eventually become a powerful marketing tool for businesses seeking to attract new customers
Standards can help small and medium-sized businesses address the following:
- Sustainability, effectively manage the environmental, economic and social impact of their business
- Business continuity, ensure the availability of the critical operational functions in times of crisis
- Innovation, to achieve compatibility
- Service, in such a way as to promote quality service and achieve customer satisfaction
- Safety and Health, promoting positive wellbeing as well as preventing injury and illness at the workplace
- Quality, aiming at the delivery of products and services of higher quality and professionalism.
