Ever noticed “ISO” stamped on a product in a store, or heard “ISO approved” in an advertisement? It’s a common sight, but many of us don’t truly understand what ISO stands for or why it holds such importance. Let’s demystify this global benchmark.
At its core, ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is an independent international body dedicated to establishing standards and quality guidelines for a vast array of products and services. It’s powered by experts from the national standards organizations of its diverse member countries.
Established on February 23, 1947, ISO has since developed an impressive portfolio of over 25,000 international standards. These standards touch nearly every aspect of modern life, from advanced technology and manufacturing processes to critical areas like food safety and healthcare. Their overarching mission is to guarantee that products and services worldwide are safe, consistently reliable, and of high quality. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, ISO operates with English, French, and Russian as its official languages.
The Name Game: Why “ISO” and Not “IOS”?
You might assume “ISO” is simply an abbreviation for “International Organization for Standardization,” which would naturally lead to “IOS.” However, the organization’s founders faced a linguistic challenge: in English, it would be IOS, but in French (Organisation internationale de normalisation), it would be OIN. To elegantly resolve this, they opted for “ISO,” a word derived from the Greek “isos” (ίσος), meaning “equal.” This choice perfectly encapsulates their core mission: to ensure consistent and equal quality across all products and services globally.
A Glimpse into ISO’s History
ISO’s roots trace back to 1926, with its predecessor, the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (ISA), primarily focusing on mechanical engineering standards. Operations ceased during World War II in 1942. However, the vision for a renewed global standards body emerged post-war. In October 1946, representatives from 25 nations convened in London, laying the groundwork for what would become the International Organization for Standardization.
Currently boasting 174 member countries, ISO is comprised of national standards bodies, such as India’s BSI. These members are categorized into three distinct types: full members, correspondent members, and subscriber members, each with varying levels of participation.
Understanding ISO’s Membership Tiers
- Full Members (Member Bodies): These are the primary national standards bodies for their respective countries. They actively shape ISO’s standards and strategies by participating and voting in technical and policy meetings. Full members also have the authority to sell and adopt ISO international standards within their nations.
- Correspondent Members: These members participate as observers in ISO’s standards development and strategic meetings. They can also sell and adopt ISO standards nationally within their territory.
- Subscriber Members: While kept informed of ISO’s ongoing work, subscriber members do not have the right to participate in technical discussions or nationally sell and adopt ISO standards.
What Does ISO Publish?
ISO’s primary output consists of International Standards, which are their most frequently published documents. They also release Technical Reports, offering supplementary information such as explanations and references that differ from formal standards. Furthermore, ISO develops “guides” – essentially, standards for creating standards – which provide essential rules and methodologies for technical committees. While most ISO documents are copyrighted and require purchase to support the organization’s work, a selection of standards is made available free of charge.