ISO standards – everything you need to know

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the International Organization for Standardization, which is responsible for defining standards for services, products and management systems. Contrary to popular belief, the name ‘ISO’ does not derive from English, but from Greek – from the word ‘isos’ (equal). It is very important to note that this organisation is not subject to the influence of governments or businesses and is independent.

ISO standards are documents developed by international experts from various fields. They are universal in nature and can be applied by both organisations and private and state-owned companies. These documents regulate the functioning of companies on many levels and contain information regarding various aspects of operations. Risk reduction, improved productivity and efficiency are just some of the benefits of implementing such standards within an organisation.

Currently, some of the most commonly implemented standards are those in the following series:

• 9000 – set out principles for quality management
• 1400 – relate to environmental management
• 1800 – focus on the operation of occupational health and safety systems
• 2700 – define information security management
• 2800 – relate to risk management

The ISO 9001 standard is one of the most widely used standards, with compliance confirmed through external certification. It applies to any organisation that wishes to demonstrate its ability to consistently provide products that meet customer requirements and applicable regulations, and which strives to enhance customer satisfaction (under ISO 9001, a service is also considered a product).