ISO standards: a passport for global manufacturing and its influence

9 de octubre de 2024

Formulation and evolution of ISO standards

Origin background

The predecessor of ISO can be traced back to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In the early 20th century, with the rapid development and widespread application of electrical technology, there was chaos in the formulation of standards for electrical products in various countries. To solve this problem, the International Electrotechnical Commission came into being, which is committed to formulating unified electrical technical standards. However, with the further integration of the global economy, it is no longer possible to meet the needs by simply regulating the electrical field. In 1947, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was formally established to formulate unified standards in a wider range of fields, covering all aspects of manufacturing, commerce, technology, and services.

Formulation Mechanism

The formulation of ISO standards is a complex and rigorous process involving the participation of many countries and organizations. First, the standardization bodies of various countries will propose proposals for standard formulation based on their own industrial needs and technological development. These proposals will be submitted to the relevant ISO technical committees. The technical committees are composed of experts from different countries, who will conduct in-depth research and discussions on the proposals. During the discussion, experts need to balance the interests of different countries and industries. For example, developed countries may have advantages in certain high-end technology fields, and they hope that the standards can reflect their technological level; while developing countries are more concerned about the operability and cost-effectiveness of the standards to ensure that their companies can meet the requirements of the standards.

To reach a unified standard, the technical committee will conduct multiple rounds of consultations and voting. In this process, all parties will fully express their views and demands, and through continuous compromise and adjustment, finally form a draft standard that can be accepted by most countries. The draft will go through the stage of public disclosure and solicitation of opinions, further absorb the feedback from all parties, and make revisions and improvements. Finally, after voting by ISO member countries, the standard is officially released and implemented.

Specific application and impact of ISO standards in different fields

Core fields of manufacturing

Take mechanical manufacturing as an example, ISO standards play a vital role in it. In terms of production processes, ISO standards regulate every link from raw material procurement to finished product delivery. For example, in the quality inspection standards for raw materials, the chemical composition, physical properties, and other indicators of various metal materials are clarified to ensure the quality stability of raw materials. In terms of processing technology, the precision requirements and operating specifications of various mechanical processing methods are stipulated to improve the consistency and reliability of products. In terms of product quality and safety, ISO standards set strict inspection standards and safety specifications. For example, for key components of mechanical products, performance indicators such as strength and durability are stipulated, as well as corresponding test methods to ensure that there will be no safety accidents during the use of the product.

By comparing the changes in the quality and competitiveness of manufacturing products in different countries before and after the implementation of ISO standards, the positive impact of ISO standards can be seen. Before the implementation of the standards, the competitiveness of mechanical manufacturing products in some countries in the international market was weak due to uneven quality. After implementing ISO standards, enterprises have gradually gained recognition from the international market by optimizing production processes and improving product quality. The export volume of products has increased significantly and the brand image has also been improved.

Emerging technology fields

With the rapid development of science and technology, emerging technology fields such as electronic products, artificial intelligence, and new energy have also put forward new challenges and demands on ISO standards. In the field of electronic products, ISO standards need to constantly adapt to the rapid replacement of electronic products. For example, for mobile devices such as smartphones, ISO standards should not only regulate their hardware performance indicators, such as chip processing power and battery life but also consider software compatibility and security. In the field of artificial intelligence, due to the complexity and uncertainty of technology, the formulation of ISO standards is relatively lagging. At present, the main focus is on the ethics and data security of artificial intelligence to ensure the healthy development of artificial intelligence technology. In the field of new energy, ISO standards regulate the performance, quality, and safety standards of products such as solar cells and wind turbines, and promote the scale and standardization of the new energy industry.

ISO standards have both a promoting effect on the innovative development of emerging technology industries and may also have certain constraints. On the one hand, the existence of standards provides enterprises with clear R&D directions and goals, avoiding the blindness of enterprises in the process of technological R&D. At the same time, unified standards are also conducive to technical exchanges and cooperation between different enterprises, and promote the dissemination and innovation of technology. On the other hand, if the standards are too strict or updated on time, it may limit the innovative thinking and innovation space of enterprises, resulting in obstacles to technological breakthroughs.

Special industry fields

In the medical industry, ISO standards play an irreplaceable role in ensuring the quality and reliability of medical devices. Medical devices are directly related to the life and health of patients, so ISO standards set strict requirements in all aspects of medical device design, production, and inspection. For example, in the selection of materials for medical devices, it is required to use non-toxic, harmless, and biocompatible materials; in the production process, it is necessary to ensure the sterility and cleanliness of the production environment and strictly control the production process parameters; in the inspection link, the performance and safety of medical devices must be fully tested to ensure that they meet the requirements of clinical use. The strict implementation of these standards effectively guarantees the safety of patients and improves the quality of medical care.

For the food industry, ISO standards also have special requirements and roles in food safety and quality control. ISO standards cover the entire process of food production, from the planting and breeding of raw materials to the processing, packaging, storage, and transportation of food. In terms of raw materials, it is required to strictly control the pesticide residues and veterinary drug residues of agricultural products; in the processing process, the use of food additives is regulated to ensure the nutritional content and taste of food; in the packaging and storage links, it is required to use packaging materials that meet food safety standards and control the temperature, humidity and other conditions of the storage environment to prevent food from spoiling. Through the implementation of ISO standards, food safety is effectively guaranteed and consumers’ trust in food is improved.

The value and challenges of ISO standards to enterprises

Competitive advantage

After obtaining ISO certification, enterprises can improve product quality and consistency by strictly optimizing production processes following ISO standards. Their products have been recognized by international customers, and their market share has gradually expanded. Therefore, they can often gain significant competitive advantages in the international market. At the same time, ISO certification has also become an important part of the corporate brand image, enhancing the credibility and reputation of enterprises in the international market.

For many multinational companies, ISO certification is one of the important conditions for selecting suppliers. Therefore, enterprises can use ISO certification as a stepping stone to enter the international high-end supply chain. For example, in the automobile manufacturing industry, large automobile manufacturers will give priority to companies that have obtained ISO certification when selecting parts suppliers. This is because ISO certification can ensure that the quality of parts provided by suppliers meets the requirements, thereby ensuring the quality and safety of the entire vehicle.

Improvement of internal management

ISO standards can not only enhance the external competitiveness of enterprises but also prompt enterprises to optimize internal management processes and improve production efficiency and resource utilization. In the process of implementing ISO standards, enterprises need to comprehensively sort out and optimize internal organizational structures, job responsibilities, work processes, etc. For example, by clarifying the responsibilities and powers of each department, the phenomenon of buck-passing between departments is reduced, and work efficiency is improved. At the same time, ISO standards require enterprises to reasonably allocate and effectively utilize various resources in the production process, improve resource utilization, and reduce production costs by optimizing production plans, reducing inventory backlogs, and other measures.

Challenges and responses

Enterprises also face many challenges in the process of implementing ISO standards. The first is the challenge of funds. The implementation of ISO standards requires enterprises to invest a certain amount of funds to purchase related equipment, train employees, and hire consultants. For some small and medium-sized enterprises, this may be a considerable expense. Secondly, there are challenges in terms of human resources. The implementation of ISO standards requires the active participation and cooperation of all employees of the enterprise, which requires employees to have corresponding knowledge and skills. Therefore, enterprises need to conduct a lot of training for employees to improve their quality and ability. Finally, there are challenges in terms of technology. With the continuous development of science and technology, ISO standards are also constantly updated and improved. Enterprises need to constantly track and adapt to changes in standards, which requires enterprises to have certain technical research and development capabilities and innovation capabilities.

In the face of these challenges, successful enterprises often adopt a series of effective response strategies. In terms of funds, enterprises can solve funding problems by reasonably arranging budgets, striving for government subsidies, and cooperating with other enterprises. In terms of human resources, enterprises can formulate employee training plans, regularly organize employees to participate in training courses, and encourage employees to learn and improve themselves. At the same time, enterprises can also introduce external talents to enrich the talent team of the enterprise. In terms of technology, enterprises can strengthen cooperation with scientific research institutions and universities, jointly develop new technologies, track changes in standards, and timely adjust the direction of technology research and development of enterprises.

ISO standards and global trade pattern

Elimination of trade barriers

ISO standards play an important role in eliminating international trade barriers. In international trade, due to the inconsistency of standards among countries, products often fail to pass inspection in the importing country, thus forming trade barriers. ISO standards unify product specifications and quality requirements so that products from all countries can be produced and sold according to the same standards in the international market, thereby reducing technical barriers in international trade. For example, in the international trade of mechanical products, if the importing country requires the product to meet its standards, and the product standards of the exporting country are different, then the exporting country’s products may not be able to enter the importing country’s market. If all countries follow ISO standards, the circulation of products in the international market will be smoother.

Use specific trade data to illustrate the contribution of ISO standards to promoting global trade growth. According to relevant research reports, after the widespread implementation of ISO standards, the trade volume of global manufacturing products has shown a clear growth trend.

Role in the formulation of international trade rules

ISO standards also have an important influence and voice in the process of formulating international trade rules. In the process of formulating international trade agreements, ISO standards are often used as an important reference. For example, in the formulation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, some clauses in ISO standards were incorporated into them and became one of the basic norms of international trade. At the same time, ISO standards also have mutual relations and synergies with other international trade agreements (such as WTO rules). For example, WTO rules provide legal guarantees for the implementation of ISO standards, while ISO standards provide technical support for the specific implementation of WTO rules.

Future development trends of ISO standards

Adapting to scientific and technological progress

With the continuous advancement of science and technology, ISO standards also need to be constantly adjusted and updated. In the future, ISO standards will face more challenges and opportunities. In the face of the rapid development of future science and technology (such as quantum computing, gene editing, etc.), ISO standards need to be laid out in advance, predict the trend of scientific and technological development, and formulate relevant standards promptly. For example, in the field of quantum computing, ISO standards may need to regulate the performance indicators, algorithm standards, data security, and other aspects of quantum computers. For the field of gene editing, it is necessary to regulate the scope of application, ethics, safety risks, and other aspects of gene editing technology.

To ensure that ISO standards always keep pace with the times and adapt to emerging technologies and industrial changes, ISO organizations need to strengthen cooperation with scientific research institutions, universities, enterprises, and other parties. Through cooperation, all parties can jointly study the development trends of new technologies and promptly feedback the needs of standard formulation, so that ISO standards can better adapt to the requirements of scientific and technological progress.

Sustainable development orientation

In the context of sustainable development becoming a global consensus, ISO standards will also develop in the direction of sustainable development. In the future, ISO standards will strengthen norms and guidance in sustainable development such as environmental protection and social responsibility. In terms of environmental protection, ISO standards may impose stricter requirements on enterprises’ carbon emissions, resource utilization efficiency, waste disposal, and other aspects. For example, manufacturing enterprises may be required to reduce carbon emissions, improve resource utilization efficiency, and adopt environmentally friendly production processes. In terms of social responsibility, ISO standards may impose requirements on employees’ rights protection, community participation, business ethics, and other aspects. For example, enterprises are required to guarantee employees’ wages and benefits, work environment safety, actively participate in community public welfare activities, and abide by business ethics.

As a passport for the global manufacturing industry, ISO standards have had a profound impact on the development of the global economy in the past few decades. It not only promotes the growth of global trade, improves product quality and safety, but also promotes the internal management and innovation of enterprises. With the advancement of science and technology and the popularization of the concept of sustainable development, ISO standards will continue to evolve and develop, and continue to play an important role in the global economy.