International organization for Standardization (ISO) is a standard that is for the quality management system. If any company wants to get certified under any standard, then they have to meet the requirements of that standard. This standard represents the company’s ability to provide quality products, and cater to the customer demands in a way that ensures the satisfaction, and maintains the quality of the product.
History:
The history of ISO dates back to the 1920s when the organization began as the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations (ISA), but soon it was suspended during World War 2. It took off after the World War, and an idea to make it an international standards body was put forward. The committee met in London in October 1946, and the new organization came into existence in February 1947.
Structure:
It has members representing countries, and each one of them represents a country. There is a meeting every year to discuss the objectives, and the secretariat is based in Geneva. The annual budget is set by the rotating 20-member body. Under them are the 250 technical committees that are responsible for the ISO standards.
Membership categories:
There are three types of membership –
Member bodies
These are the only members who have voting rights. They are the national bodies and represent each country.
Correspondent member:
These are the countries that lack their standard organization. They are well aware of the ISO, but they have no right in the promulgation, and neither do they have the voting rights.
Subscriber members:
These are the countries that are part of the ISO and pay fewer membership fees but follow the ISO standards. All three constitute the types of membership of ISO.
ISO:
Achieving an ISO standard for a company is not a complex matter, but it involves various steps, that need to be followed. The aim is to make the environment in a workplace convenient for you as well as your employees. This will improve all the corners of your organization, and with knowledge about your working and employees, the work environment can be enhanced. There are many benefits of an ISO standard. It is better for internal management, there is less wastage, productivity, profit, and efficiency is increased, globally recognized, and it is measured and monitored. Furthermore, ISO 9001 is compatible with other ISO standards.
How to get it:
In the US or UK, there are steps to get the ISO certification. This can vary from country to country. You have to first get in touch with your application form, work with the ISO authorities to develop a Quality management system, a self-declaration form that verifies that you have implemented the QMS properly, and after the self-declaration form is received, you will get the ISO certification.
Conclusion:
ISO is based in Geneva, Switzerland. It is an international standards organization that determines the quality of a product. The company has to meet certain requirements for the certification, and this has to be maintained as long as they are certified.
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