What Does ISO Mean? Understanding ISO
In the vast and interconnected world of global trade and industry, standardisation plays a pivotal role in ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency. One of the foremost organisations contributing to this global effort is ISO. However, in today’s world, abbreviations are everywhere. If you’ve encountered “ISO” in online forums, at work, or in conversations, you might be wondering what ISO stands for or what they do.
What is ISO?
ISO stands for International Organisation for Standardisation. They are a worldwide organisation that develops and publishes voluntary international standards across various industries and sectors. It’s a non-governmental organisation comprising representatives from national standards bodies of more than 160 different countries. ISO works collaboratively to establish benchmarks, best practices, and guidelines.
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the ISO Worldwide Federation of National Bodies has a rich history dating back to 1947 when delegates from 25 countries gathered to establish a new international organisation for standardisation. The founders chose the name “ISO” from the Greek word “isos,” meaning “equal,” to reflect its goal of standardising practices across industries. The aim was to foster international coordination and unification of industrial standards, recognising the importance of consistency and quality in products and services across borders.
In this blog, we’re going to discuss exactly what does ISO mean:
What does ISO mean and do?
The core function of ISO revolves around the development and maintenance of ISO standards. ISO Standards are like formulas developed by experts worldwide that demonstrate best practices and the best way things should be done across different areas, such as quality management, environmental practices, information security, and various others.
By establishing these benchmarks, ISO aims to promote uniformity, safety, efficiency, and quality in products, services, and systems globally. Organisations across the globe can voluntarily adopt and implement. these standards in order to improve quality and consistency in their intended fields and activities. Some of these standards allow organisations to also achieve Certification.
While ISO doesn’t enforce compliance, its standards serve as guidelines and requirements frameworks that organisations can integrate into their processes to meet global expectations, enhance competitiveness, and facilitate international trade while encouraging innovation and continual improvement.
What is ISO Certification?
ISO certification is an official confirmation from a third-party certification body that a product, service, or management system complies with specific ISO standards. It’s important to note that the International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) creates these standards, it does not directly issue certifications to businesses. Certification is provided to organisations by Accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) across the globe and verifies that organisations meet the required criteria of a given standard. Furthermore, ISO advises against using the term “ISO certification” to indicate conformity with their standards. Rather, it recommends specifying the exact standard, such as “ISO 9001:2015 certified”.
ISO’s Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO) plays a crucial role in developing standards related to the certification process, ensuring a consistent approach worldwide. Examples of commonly sought ISO certifications include ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems), which help organisations demonstrate their commitment to best practices and compliance. Also, you can learn more about the best practices to maintain ISO Certification for your business.
What are ISO Standards?
An ISO Standard is an internationally proven and recognised way for a business to develop and run its operations, processes and products aligned with a particular discipline. The ISO Standards cover a wide range of activities, whether it’s producing a product, overseeing a process, providing a service, or supplying materials. By adhering to ISO Standards, organisations can enhance customer trust, improve operational efficiency, and demonstrate their commitment to best practices.
While there are over 2,500 standards developed by ISO covering many aspects of organisations, the ISO Management System Standards (MSS) are the ones focused on the requirements and guidelines for how organisations manage their operations and processes in order to achieve their goals. There are over 80 MMS, covering from quality to health and safety.
In the next section, we will cover the most popular ISO Management System Standards.
Did you know?
What are the main ISO Management System Standards?
There are over 24,000 ISO Standards available, each one developed to address different aspects or challenges that affect organisations globally. The standards serve as a framework to manage a variety of technical topics and processes throughout a business and achieve set goals and industry requirements. The most widely-adopted ISO Management System Standards are the following:
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems is globally recognised as the most popular ISO Standard. It provides organisations with a framework for implementing a world-class management system to drive continuous improvement and growth. The standard also enables businesses to achieve consistency in their operations and services, as well as meet, and exceed, customer and regulatory requirements.
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems helps businesses to manage health and safety risks and opportunities, reduce hazards, and ultimately provide a safer working environment for all employees and other stakeholders.
ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems
ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management Systems provides a framework for better environmental management control, with the goal of reducing the business’ environmental impacts.
ISO 27001:2022 Information Security Management Systems
ISO 27001:2022 Information Security Management Systems assists businesses to preserve and protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of all relevant data and information in an organisation.
Take the First Step with “Quick Checks”
How can ISO Management System Standards help your business?
A business can choose to implement a Standard to enjoy its benefits, and not necessarily go for Certification. However, being certified to an ISO Standard adds extra value to your business. Although the process of achieving the certification may seem overwhelming, having an ISO Certification can be quite rewarding as your business will benefit by:
How are ISO Standards created?
ISO Standards are only developed once there is an identified industry need for standardisation. Experts begin working to prepare a draft, including its scope, key definitions and content. The draft is then shared with all ISO National members for review, where the approval process begins in various stages. Once all ISO members are satisfied with the standard, it will be published and available for the public to use, and in some cases, for organisations to work towards Certification to that Standard when applicable.
All ISO Standards are then reviewed approximately every five years by the relevant ISO member bodies. This could result in confirmation, revision (resulting in a new updated version published), or complete withdrawal of the standard.
Ready to get ISO Certified?
Now you understand what does ISO mean, are you ready to take the first step in your ISO journey?
Our team of experienced professionals understands the meaning of ISO and the intricacies of ISO Certification across various industries. We don’t just help you meet the requirements; we work hand-in-hand with you to integrate the requirements of the standards seamlessly into your operations, fostering a culture of excellence and continual improvement.
Call us now on 1300 614 007 or book your online FREE Strategy Session to solve any further questions about what does ISO mean, the ISO meaning and the Certification Process, or to discuss a tailored solution for your business.
About the author
Andressa (alias Andy) is the General Manager of ISO Certification Experts and ICExperts Academy, heading our Marketing department and coordinating the internal improvement initiatives and projects. With an MBA in Project Management, and over 10 years of experience in customer service and project management across many industries, she brings valuable knowledge to the business and our operations. Alongside her professional expertise, Andressa holds a genuine passion for sustainability and the environment.
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