Standards are established by consensus among experts and lay down precise criteria designed to ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of products, services, and systems. They serve as a common language that bridges gaps between markets, enabling fair competition and fostering innovation. In procurement, standards ensure that the products and services we acquire meet essential quality benchmarks and comply with regulatory requirements. This not only mitigates risks but also enhances customer satisfaction by delivering consistent performance and trustworthiness. Let us go about and learn how to one go about when finding a relevant ISO standard.

What is an ISO standard

An ISO standard is a document that provides specifications, guidelines, or characteristics that can be used consistently to ensure materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose. ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 165 national standards bodies.

Purpose and Role of ISO Standards:

• Quality Assurance: ISO standards help ensure that products and services are safe, reliable, and of good quality.
• Efficiency and Innovation: They encourage efficiency and innovation, helping companies to access new markets and streamline their operations.
• Consumer Confidence: Standards increase consumer confidence as they signify that the products and services meet high international benchmarks.
• Environmental and Social Responsibility: Many ISO standards, like ISO 14001 for environmental management, guide businesses in reducing their environmental impact and enhancing their social responsibility.

Development and Adoption:

• Global Expertise: ISO standards are developed through global consensus by experts from the industrial, technical, and business sectors proposed to address a specific need or gap.
• Voluntary: While their adoption is voluntary, ISO standards often become market requirements, or their adherence can be mandated by regulation.
• Harmonization: They help harmonize technical specifications of products and services making industry more efficient and breaking down barriers to international trade.

Popular ISO Standards:

• ISO 9001: This is perhaps the most well-known and widely adopted standard, which sets out the criteria for a quality management system. It is used by organizations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• ISO 14001: Focuses on environmental management, helping organizations minimize their environmental footprint, comply with applicable laws, and improve their environmental performance.
• ISO 27001: Provides requirements for an information security management system (ISMS), helping organizations secure their information assets.
• ISO 45001: Sets the standard for occupational health and safety management systems, helping organizations improve employee safety, reduce workplace risks, and create better, safer working conditions.

Guide to finding a relevant ISO standard.

Here’s a concise guide on how to quickly understand what ISO standards are available and find the ones relevant to your needs:

1. Identify Your Needs

Begin by identifying the specific areas within your organization that you seek to improve or certify. This could include quality management, environmental management, information security, etc.

2. Visit the Official ISO Website

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) maintains an up-to-date and comprehensive list of all ISO standards. Visit the official ISO website at iso.org.

3. Use the ISO Catalogue

Once on the ISO website, navigate to the “Standards” section and access the ISO Catalogue. The catalogue allows you to search for standards by number, keyword, or industry sector. This is a great starting point to explore the full range of standards available.

4. Understand the Standard Numbering

ISO standards are identified by unique numbers followed by the year of publication (e.g., ISO 9001:2015). The numbering helps in identifying the standard and its version.

5. Read the Abstracts and Scope

Each standard’s page on the ISO website includes an abstract and the scope of the standard. These summaries provide a quick overview of what the standard covers and its intended application. This is crucial for determining if a standard is relevant to your needs.

6. Check Sector-Specific Standards

If you’re looking for standards applicable to a specific industry or sector (e.g., aerospace, automotive, healthcare), filter your search accordingly. Many ISO standards are designed with particular industries in mind.

7. Consult with ISO Member Bodies

Each country has its own ISO member body (e.g., ANSI in the United States, BSI in the United Kingdom). These bodies can provide guidance, sell standards, and sometimes offer summaries or resources to help understand the standards better.

8. Utilize External Resources

Besides the official ISO website, professional associations, industry groups, and certification bodies often provide resources, summaries, and guidance on a relevant ISO standard. These can be helpful for understanding the context and application of the standards.

9. Consider Training or Workshops

For more in-depth understanding, consider attending ISO standard training or workshops. These are often offered by certification bodies, professional training organizations, or industry associations.

10. Engage with ISO Consultants

If you’re looking for tailored advice or need assistance in implementing a standard within your supply chain, consulting with ISO consultants can be invaluable. They can help identify the most relevant standards and guide you through the supplier verification process. We recommend contacting Hans Nilsson.

Following these steps will help you quickly understand what relevant ISO standards are available and determine which are most applicable to your organization’s needs.

Finding a relevant ISO standard… but when to use it?.

ISO standards play a pivotal role in both the pre-qualification of suppliers (supplier onboarding) and the actual sourcing process by providing a universally recognized framework for evaluating and selecting suppliers. These standards help ensure that suppliers meet specific criteria related to quality, environmental management, information security, and other key areas. Here’s how ISO standards integrate into these processes:

Pre-Qualification of Suppliers (Supplier Onboarding)

• Quality Assurance: ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) is commonly used in supplier pre-qualification to ensure suppliers have robust quality management practices. Suppliers with ISO 9001 certification demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
• Environmental Management: ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems) is used to evaluate suppliers’ commitment to environmental management and sustainability. It ensures suppliers have measures in place to minimize their environmental impact, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and continually improve their environmental performance.
• Information Security: ISO 27001 (Information Security Management Systems) certification is critical, especially for suppliers that will handle sensitive company data. This standard ensures suppliers have a systematic approach to managing sensitive information, thus protecting data integrity, confidentiality, and availability.
• Occupational Health and Safety: ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems) helps assess suppliers’ commitment to providing a safe working environment, which is crucial for reducing workplace risks and enhancing safety.

As an opportunity an Audit can be conducted as part of the Pre-Qualification process. Learn more about Supplier Audit in Hans Nilsson’s course 

Actual Processes steps when buyer need a relevant ISO standard.

• Specifications and Contracts: ISO standards can be specified in the Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quotation (RFQ) documents as part of the technical or quality requirements. Including these standards in contracts ensures that suppliers are bound to meet international benchmarks in their deliveries.
  • Evaluation Criteria: During the proposal evaluation phase, ISO certifications can serve as criteria for assessing supplier proposals. Suppliers that hold relevant ISO certifications may be given preference or scored higher in the evaluation process, reflecting their commitment to quality, security, and sustainability. Learn more in the bundle The Sourcing Engine – a modern sourcing process.
• Risk Management: ISO 31000 (Risk Management) provides guidelines that can be used to assess and mitigate risks associated with suppliers. This standard helps in making informed decisions during the supplier selection process by evaluating the potential risks and their impact.
• Continuous Improvement: ISO standards promote continuous improvement. By selecting suppliers that adhere to these standards, organizations encourage a culture of ongoing development and innovation in their supply chain, ensuring that suppliers continuously enhance their processes and products. Learn more in the course Supplier Development by EFFSO.
• Performance Monitoring: Once suppliers are onboarded, their performance can be monitored against the ISO standards they are certified in. This ensures that they maintain the high levels of quality, security, and environmental management required by the standards. Learn more in the Know Your Supplier course.

Summary: Finding a relevant ISO standard.

ISO standards are tools designed to help organizations improve their processes, ensure quality, and meet regulatory requirements efficiently and effectively.

ISO standards provide a reliable and objective basis for evaluating and selecting suppliers during the pre-qualification and sourcing processes. They ensure that suppliers meet internationally recognized best practices, contributing to the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of the supply chain. Integrating ISO standards into these processes helps organizations manage risks, comply with regulations, and achieve their quality and sustainability goals.

Note: Illustration to the blogpost “Finding a relevant ISO standard” is created by Chat-GPT on March 17, 2024.