Have Questions? (678) 257-2242
What is the Simple Differences Between an ISO Technical Specification and an ISO Standard?

What is the Simple Differences Between an ISO Technical Specification and an ISO Standard?

General

We all know about ISO standards, and this very blog has covered several certifications, but we haven’t uncovered ISO technical specifications.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) has dedicated a lot of resources into setting up the standards needed so that companies can achieve certification. Standardized approaches such as using ISO 9001 for developing a quality management service (QMS) are ideal for businesses that need guidance in instituting this particular element of their company. However, standards, such as ISO 9001, aren’t the only documentation that the ISO produces. There is also the issue of ISO technical specifications, which this article will intend to shed some light on.

Defining an ISO Technical Specification (TS)

In a previous post, we covered what defines a standard, namely, a series of requirements for standardization and quality assurance. ISO technical specifications are distinct from this definition because they relate to areas that the ISO hasn’t fully developed complete standards on just yet. The ISO mentions that a TS addresses work that hasn’t completed the entire range of technical development.

In the future, the specification may form the basis of an International Standard. Unfortunately, unlike the rigorous feedback system that established ISO standards puts in place, technical specifications have no means of delivering feedback to know how well the system works.

Why Do ISO Technical Specifications Exist?

Even though they lack feedback mechanisms, technical specifications are still useful in providing a guideline for companies engaged in work within an industry that doesn’t have a current international standard. They are published to be used as-is, while the final instructions are going through the process of industry consensus.

Before the TS becomes publishable, however, two-thirds of the participating members of an IEC technical committee or subcommittee must first approve a technical specification. The final approval is similar to that of a complete standard with the exception that the final vote for approval takes place at the Draft Technical Specification stage as opposed to the Committee Draft phase.

The Difference Between Requirements and Guidance

At its heart, the difference between an ISO standard and a technical specification can boil down to the question of guidance or requirement. Standards have a list of requirements that the companies that intend to seek certification must conform to. Among these include well-designed feedback mechanisms and audits to ensure that the company maintains the standards they previously achieved.

On the other end of the spectrum is the technical specification. The TS doesn’t come with any rules that a business needs to follow. Instead, they offer a valuable guide to developing systems that may achieve certification if the specification evolves to become a full ISO standard.

The major difference, therefore, between the standard and the specification are twofold. The standard states requirements for certification and is fully fleshed out to offer critical feedback for improvement. The specification, on the other hand, lacks feedback mechanisms, and offer suggestions as opposed to hard requirements.

Are ISO Technical Specifications Useful to a Company Seeking ISO Certification?

If a company is seeking certification for an established ISO standard, they can rely on the published requirements to help streamline their processes. However, if a business is investigating an area that hasn’t yet had an ISO standard defined, then the only publication they can rely on would be the technical specification. Sometimes it may take a while for a technical specification to become a standard because consensus hasn’t yet been reached or because standardization may be viewed as immature.

Even so, the technical specifications can rival compete ISO standards in terms of completeness. They can provide a useful roadmap to companies that don’t yet have a finalized list of requirements to work with to gain certification. Are you interested in following the guidelines set up for your industry by the ISO, but don’t know how to implement the suggestions of a technical specification? Give us a call today to learn more about how these technical specifications can improve your competitiveness and how Sync Resource can help you meet the high bar for international standards.

Book A Call With An Expert Now
What is ISO Compliance and How Does This Save Money?

What is ISO Compliance and How Does This Save Money?

General

What is ISO compliance? An ISO-compliant business conforms to the rules, regulations, and requirements set forth by the International Organization for Standards (ISO). The ISO sets forth a series of standards that apply to the reliability, safety, environmental friendliness, and product quality of a firm. A company that is ISO compliant can apply to become certified by a third-party organization. If you’re interested in getting professional guidance on ISO certification, contact us today.

Who Is the ISO?

The International Organization for Standards includes more than 164 sovereign states. The organization regularly revamps standards processes, and the most recent changes occurred in 2015. The updates require the consultation of each of the members. The updated standards only come into effect when a majority of members agree to the changes.

The standards outlined in the ISO compliance documents focus on ensuring that enterprises have a quality management system instituted within their business. The quality management system for a company consists of processes, policies, and documentation that help the firm better serve consumers.

What is ISO Compliance for?

At the heart, the ISO’s regulations are about ensuring that a company conforms to internationally accepted standards. These standards exist across a wide range of industries.

At present, ISO compliance is particularly applicable in a handful of industries, including:

  • Construction
  • Healthcare
  • Engineering
  • Technology
  • Manufacturing

Businesses don’t need to have a minimum size to qualify for certification. Even small companies can conform to ISO standards and qualify for certification.

When Can a Company Seek ISO Compliance?

A business can assign a compliance officer at any point in time. Ideally, the compliance officer will guide their internal processes so that they will conform to the requirements set forward in the ISO regulations.

What is ISO Compliance Certification?

What is ISO compliance and what is certification: The difference between compliance and certification exists with how they interact with each other. A business that is compliant with the requirements of the ISO can go on to become certified. The same process by which a firm starts the process of certification can help the company become compliant. However, compliance without certification doesn’t benefit a business. If you would like to turn your compliance into accreditation, we can help with that.

How Does a Business Become Compliant?

ISO Compliant businesses should follow the same processes by which a company gains certification. ISO certification aims to have a well-documented quality management system in place. A company can achieve this in several ways. However, while a business might follow guidelines as to how to implement their management system, each one is unique to a particular firm, industry, or product. A company seeking to attain compliance may do so by following a few noteworthy steps, namely:

  • Prepare for Compliance:
    Preparation comes with the consideration of whether the business will apply for certification or not. Certification carries with it the burden of regular audits and eventual re-certification. It also offers significant benefits over compliance. If your company is interested in certification, we can help.
  • Outlining the Quality Management System:
    This step enables the business to have a general guideline of its quality management process. Within this step, the company needs to document every procedure that it intends to put in place to make for more straightforward implementation at the next step.
  • Making the Management System a Reality:
    At this step, the business seeks to bring its quality management system into its business procedures. Employees introduce the outlined elements into their daily processes.
  • Internal Auditing:
    Ideally, if a business intends to undergo certification, then they would have personnel assigned as their ISO compliance officer. This officer has the task of ensuring the business’s activities conform to the ISO standards through internal audits.Companies that intend to garner certification eventually can rely on their compliance officer for internal audits. However, external audits need to occur. This requirement falls to a third-party ISO registrar, chosen by the company.
Book A Call With An Expert Now
What Does QMS Stand For? 3 Quality Letters

What Does QMS Stand For? 3 Quality Letters

ISO 9001, Quality Management Standards (QMS), Uncategorized

What does QMS stand for? If you are looking for an answer to this question, you are definitely interested in making quality a focus in your organization.

Perhaps, you are planning to build a culture of quality, mentor ship, smooth communication, and have an overall well-structured organization. Or you are aiming to provide consistent quality services and products to your clients while minimizing costs, waste, and improving employee morale simultaneously.

If you have answered yes, then you can follow in the footsteps of the market giants like HFI, Vishay Dale Inc, and have a well-defined QMS implemented in your organization. But with all the different terms and certifications floating around in the industry, knowing what QMS stands for can be a bit challenging?

So, what does QMS stand for? Let’s get into the details.

What Does QMS Stand For? A Quick Understanding

Quality Management System (QMS) is a structured collection of policies, procedures, process, and their associated responsibilities, necessary for efficient planning and execution of the core business. A QMS works to improve specifically the areas that impact the organization’s ability to meet customer satisfaction.

The easiest way to understand QMS is to break down and take a closer look at the name. “Quality” refers to the degree of fineness of any product or service, whereas “Management” refers to the orchestrated activities to run and control any organization. Lastly, “System” is a network of interacting or interrelated elements essential for smooth operations. When looking for an answer to “what does QMS stand for”, you will usually come across the term ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001:2015 is the world’s most widely recognized quality management system framework.

15 reasons why you should have ISO 9001:2015

Companies with ISO 9001:2015 quality management system enjoy the following benefits:

  1. An enhanced positive company image
  2. A well-defined procedure system
  3. A simplified organizational structure and chain of authority
  4. Articulation of responsibilities of every personnel and department
  5. An engaged, evolved, motivated, and conflict-free workforce
  6. Clarification of corrections and preventions of defects
  7. Cutting down of costs, wastes, and saving of valuable resources
  8. A smooth flow of communication within the company
  9. Increased accountability and transparency in records and data maintenance
  10. Boosted continual improvement
  11. Clear status of existing business performance
  12. Consistent delivery of quality services and products
  13. Improved customer satisfaction and business profits
  14. Better industry competitiveness
  15. Access to global markets

How Can You Get Quality Management System Certification?

Identify The Gap

If you have decided to get a certified quality management system, then we advise you to check for the proper establishment of the foundations of QMS, i.e., the 3P’s (policies, procedures, and processes) in your organization. You can have your internal executive management do this, or you may hire outside sources that specialize in gap identification. Either way, you need to review your current documentation, policies, and procedures. The areas that do not meet the standard should be highlighted and reported.

Implement Changes

After identifying the gaps, you need to make all the required changes, have them monitored, and evaluated for improvement. To assist in change management, you can use the templates provided by QMS. Align your documents, practices, and systems following the ISO 9001:2015 defined standards, and then apply for certification.

Get Certified

An auditor usually visits your organization to check that the compliance of all documented policies and procedures is in place. This auditor ensures the successful implementation of all the necessary changes. Upon satisfaction, the auditor issues and awards your company the certification you applied for.

After you get the desired certification, the year-round re-certification cycle starts. On the anniversary of your certification, you have to confirm your continued compliance and consistency in the quality management system to validate your certification. At this point, you have the answer to the question, “What does QMS stand for”. But more importantly, you now understand the importance of QMS too.

Book A Call With An Expert Now
What Does ISO Stand For? 3 Powerful Letters

What Does ISO Stand For? 3 Powerful Letters

ISO 9001, IT Management Standards

You have heard the acronym ISO…  so what does ISO stand for? ISO refers to the International Organization for Standardization with a membership of 164 national standards of bodies. ISO is an international organization that develops standards of operations and establishes certifications. Why are businesses usually looking for certification?

ISO exists in almost all areas of industry, from medical devices to food safety, and many more. Each certification is classified with a separate number and has separate standards and criteria of evaluation.

So, what does ISO stand for and what is Certification?

ISO certification ensures the safety, quality, consistency, and effectiveness of products and services. Third parties conduct various rigorous tests on the organization seeking certifications. Once certified, the organization is tested for that particular ISO annually. ISO certification gives an organization recognized credibility.

What does ISO stand for?

What does ISO stand for and what is certification?

Since ISO has come into existence, the support to innovation has been off the charts. Members share their expertise and develop market-relevant international standards together. ISO standards are key to resolving industrial challenges.

Where Did ISO Come From?

After 1942, ISO replaced ISA (International Federation of the National Standardizing Association). This was right after the end of World War II. Naturally, everything was poorly affected by the war, including the quality of industrial life. With increased fraud and inconsistent services, there was a rise in the loss of credibility.

There were meetings held by UNSCC (United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee) on national standards. After a year of these meetings, a nongovernmental organization for international standards came into being in 1947 in the presence of a group of delegates from 25 countries. The main purpose was to write, draft, and publish standards.

ISO has a central secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. The first standard published by ISO was in 1951, known as ISO/R 1: 1951. This was a standard for reference temperature for industrial length measurement, which is still used after many updates and is now known as ISO 1:2016.

To date, ISO has published over 22,000 international standards, both certifiable and non-certifiable and celebrated 70th anniversary in 2017.

What does ISO Stand for when You Get a Certification?

Well, the ISO standards not only safeguard the end-users but the owners and workers of businesses too. ISO is an important strategic tool that helps companies tackle some of the challenges that they face. Here we have listed down the benefits of using an ISO certification.

  • Reduces cost by minimizing blunders, errors, and waste
  • Reduces insurance fees
  • Makes the process and procedure of your business more robust
  • Heightens staff engagement and motivation
  • Enables organizations to compare their products in different markets directly
  • Aids in your future planning by freeing up time that you spend on fixing things that went astray to plans
  • Helps businesses enter new markets
  • Aids the development of global trade on an equality basis
  • Increases success in tenders by increasing credibility to customers
  • Improves customer satisfaction levels by ensuring consumers that the product or service adheres to the minimum standards set internationally

If you haven’t already been certified by ISO and have found all the above-listed reasons applicable to business, then consider implementing an ISO standard.

How Can You Get ISO Certified?

Obtaining ISO certifications requires time, effort, money, and careful consideration. Getting an ISO certification requires a process of four simple steps.

  1. Identify your core business processes, document them properly, and develop your management system. Distribute the document to all those that need assessing.
  2. Ensure proper implementation of your system as defined by your policies and documents.
  3. Measure, monitor, and review the effectiveness of your procedures and system.
  4. Select the appropriate auditing body and Register your business. Submit your management system documentation for review to ensure compliance with the local, international, and applicable standards.

Now you know the answer to the common question, “What does ISO stand for?” Yes, the process might seem complicated at first. However, all the efforts are worthwhile when you benefit from the improved process and control. Learn more about ISO certification costs.

Book A Call With An Expert Now
Impressive ISO Evolution Since 1947 and Market Needs

Impressive ISO Evolution Since 1947 and Market Needs

Quality Management Standards (QMS)

ISO  evolution began in 1947 named as International Organization for Standardization commonly abbreviated as ISO. Till today they are 162 member countries and 135 people associated and working with ISO.

First Office of ISO

The first and tiny office of ISO was in some private house somewhere located in Geneva, Switzerland that accommodated 5 active members to work there.

Want to Know What Was First ISO Standard?

ISO 1:2002 Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) Standard Reference Temperature for Geometrical product the specification is formerly known as ISO/R 1:1951 Standard Reference Temperature for Industrial Length Measurement was published in 1951, and it has been updated many times till now.

The First ISO Journal

In May 1952, the first ISO Journal was published to share technical knowledge with organizations. After the first ISO journal being released, a series of the monthly publication of ISO journal was initiated.

ISO Evolution General Assembly

With 35 members and 68 standards being Henry St. Leger, the Secretary-General, all ISO members came together in Stockholm in 1955.

Establishment of SI – International System of Units

In 1960, ISO 31 was published whose purpose was to replace the formerly published ISO standard named ISO 80,000. The foundation of ISO 31 is SI (Système International d’unités) whose goal was to expand its reach to worldwide organizations so that uniformity can be attained in units of measurement.

How ISO Evolution Start Helping Developing Countries?

In 1961, a separate committee was established by the name of DEVCO primarily to deal with the matters of developing countries. Another advantage that DEVCO was providing to developing countries as they can be informed of International Standardized work without bearing the full cost of ISO membership. 

ISO – Revolutionizing the Logistics

In 1968, the first standard of ISO was published worldwide, which deals with Freight containers. Afterward, ISO is very active in revolutionizing the way people used to send goods from one place to another.  

Bringing Technical Nationalism to Its End

In 1969, what Olle Sturen (the Secretary-General of ISO) announced about ending technical nationalism was: “Political Will nationalism most probably prevail for as long as we live? Economic nationalism is about to disappear. And technical nationalism has disappeared!”

ISO Making Air and Water Quality Better for Us

The first two technical committees made by ISO was in the environmental field that is to protect water and air quality. Today many environmental experts are a part of these technical committees, and today technical committees have overextended their horizon higher levels like environment management as a whole, renewable sources of energy and soil management.

When was the ISO 9000 Family born?

The ISO 9000 family came into being in 1987 in which the first quality management standard was published worldwide for organizations to implement. The standard is known as one of the bestselling standards of ISO family.

Launch of ISO First Website

ISO goes digital in 1995 by launching its website. However, right after five years, ISO started selling their standards online on their website so that people can get easy access to ISO standards around the globe.

 The Birth of ISO 14001

To help, identify, and control environmental impact on our planet, ISO successfully launched an environmental management system standard ISO 14001 that help to strengthen the organization to minimize all the factors that affect the environment negatively.

Top Management Commitment

In 2003, when Alan Bryden was appointed as General Secretary and under his significant period of 5 years not only expanded work horizon but covered new technologies like nanotechnology and biofuels. Bryden was one of the leading men that supported ISO’s social responsibility work, which later on paved the ways to the launch of 26000.

Launch of ISO/IEC 27001

In 2005, ISO/IEC 27001 was launched under a joint technical committee of ISO and IEC. As it was a crying need of many businesses to become digital, so there came the need for business security as well. To secure the information technology and for system security, ISO 27001:2005 came into action and became one of the most popular ISO standards.

ISO Hitting the Red Carpet

In August, 25th 2008, ISO evolution not only hit the red carpet but an Emmy was proudly awarded for the joint effort of ISO, ITU, and IEC for making an advanced video coding standard that enabled sound and moving pictures to get compressed so that the internet is allowed to stream it with minimal quality loss.

Rob Steele Impressive Role as a General Secretary

In 2009, when Rob Steele became General Secretary. He initiated smart ways to make life in lesser time so that ISO can help the fast-paced world.

Launch of ISO 26000

The first standard in ISO evolution that provides guidelines about social responsibility named as ISO 26000, which was later proved as a global benchmark and made a positive impact worldwide.

Energy Management Challenge Accepted

Energy crises turned out to be a severe challenge to the world. To face the most critical problem, ISO launched its first Energy Management standard suitable for public and private sector to introduce energy efficient ways cost reduction solutions, and improve energy saving techniques.

The Cookstove Challenge

In March 2015, the UN Foundation hosted “The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves” that consisted of 1300 partners. The purpose of the partnership of Global Alliance and ISO was to help to develop and to apply standards to make sure that the best cookstoves and fuels are made to be available in the market.

ISO Combat against Bribery

The first international anti-bribery Management system named ISO 37001 was published worldwide to help organizations to fight against all the risks of bribery existing in their value chain or operation management. ISO 37001 helped businesses to reduce risk and cost related to corruption and providing a management framework.

ISO celebrates 80 Years and Many More to Come!

Since 1947, ISO evolution had crossed many milestones successfully, and now ISO family comprises of 163 members and 21000 useful standards published all over the globe benefitting many businesses from many years to many years to come!

 

 

Book A Call With An Expert Now