ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

1 ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Quality is a very important aspect to firms seeking to thrive in doing business in the 21st century. The quality of a firm’s products dictates the amount of engagement with customers and other industry players. Despite being difficult to realize, product quality is a necessity in every organization. Issues surrounding the efficiency of companies or the quality of their products often arise during daily operations. For example, the ISO certification may not be available or a client lambasting products that fail to meet their expectations. To ensure that consumer expectations are met, a company needs to strive to acquire an ISO certification. This term paper seeks to discuss the ISO topic in detail and make necessary conclusions and recommendations.

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International Organization for Standardization is arguably the largest publisher, developer and distributor of internationally recognized quality standards. The organization prides itself of the largest network in the entire continent i.e. with 163 member states (Murphy & Yates, 2009). As globalization is taking root, most countries are opening up their markets to international firms.

The quality of their products is paramount to ensure the health of citizens is taken care of.

Therefore, ISO comes in handy to ensure that quality standards are upheld and customer needs are met at all levels. During the interrogation of a firm, ISO looks to advance a quality system starting with how a company’s management is organized. In addition, the quality body is keen at ensuring a system is poised to increase productivity over time without necessarily compromising product quality. Moreover, ISO is embedded with the necessity of a firm to decrease relatively its production costs while ensuring the quality of processes is upheld at all times. The standards advanced by this international body cuts across all sectors of an economy i.e. it applies to both business firms and organizations, either profit driven or nonprofit oriented. The aforementioned is guided by ISO approach of analyzing systems, an approach that focuses on company processes. A process often guides a business or an organization and its interrogation makes ISO applicable. With divergent membership, ISO is able to source ideas and adopt a sound ground of a standard i.e. one that will foster the much needed flexibility in the contemporary society (Holtsnider & Jaffe, 2012).

How ISO works ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is a body that has a good collection of procedures otherwise known as guidelines that help a firm interrogate and align its management system with the quality requirements of a sector (Potoski & Aseem, 2005; Potoski & Aseem, 2009). It is noteworthy to state it upfront that ISO guidelines are often flexible. This

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flexibility in their guidelines is what allows their usage by different business establishments and organization. Another important aspect that cannot go without mention is the approach used in interrogating systems. ISO approach is process driven. This implies that it is not keen on departmental processes. The move to accredit a firm based on its processes keeps firms on toes as they are forced to rethink their processes. To help firms understand, ISO guidelines outline a number of ways a company can merge processes. However, this is guided by the need for quality in the product. ISO audits a system to ascertain its effectiveness both in quality and service delivery before extending certification. The audits are all inclusive as it expects users to comment on the prototype advanced by a given firm. A customer is considered the boss during this process and their satisfaction is paramount otherwise no accreditation is granted (Cannon & McCarthy, n.d).

The roles and Benefits of ISO ISO helps ease the exchange of information between different players in an economy.

This is largely due to its membership criteria where countries are represented equally. Although a public servant represents most countries, some countries have individuals from the private sector to represent them. This freedom to have members come from different economic sectors allows ISO to develop sound standards that address both the private and public sector demands.

It is apparent that the standardization body is not skewed in prioritizing sectors. The move also bridges the gap between the two important sectors of the economy, the private and public sector (Potoski & Aseem, 2005; Potoski & Aseem, 2009).

Quality standards are important in the daily lives of human beings. ISO ensures that consumers are protected at all times against low quality and dangerous products. Although ISO standards are not much talked about, their presence could be much appreciated given they were

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nonexistent. This is because firms could not mind satisfying the needs of each individual consumer. It is apparent that the ISO guidelines and standards are often taken for granted by the society. However, its importance cannot be brushed off. ISO ensures quality production of products that will ensure safety to consumers. In addition, companies through their guidelines will produce goods and services that are environmental friendly.

ISO advances a good number of benefits to firms looking to increase their revenue and profitability over time. Being well versed with their standards, businesses are able to align their strategy to the production of goods that are globally accepted and standardized. This implies that produced products can be traded in a good number of countries that are ISO members and are party to the ISO standards. In addition, ISO standards foster efficiency of company processes in that it ensures the incorporation of innovative technologies in production. Moreover, the flexibility of ISO guidelines eases the recognition of an invention where the body is party to the designation of terminologies to be used as well as product marketing. Apart from business and organization benefits, ISO standards also benefits governments. To a government, ISO standards provide a platform for the evaluation of product quality and ultimate safety of its citizens. In addition, it helps in the monitoring and enhancement of sound trading between economies who share the same ISO standards in their transactions (Bizmanualz, 2002). Third world economies accrue many advantages from ISO standards. These countries are able to harness relevant market information to help them understand different standards of different economies. This will ensure that these developing economies produce goods and services whose quality meets the international standards.

In conclusion, ISO is an important body that benefits society in a number of ways i.e. by ensuring that their preferences and needs are satisfied by safe products. However, most

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economies are yet to meet the postulated standards. This leaves consumer safety at the mercy of rogue producers who are only driven by profits but not quality. For a nation to protect its citizens and environment, it is important that it aligns itself with ISO standards. This will ensure quality and healthy production. In addition, it provides an avenue for local firms to compete at an equal footing with other foreign firms.

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Bizmanualz. (2002). The Bizmanualz ISO 9001 QMS: Policies, procedures and forms: How to quickly create an ISO 9001 quality management systems with easily editable policies and procedures. St. Louis: Bizmanualz.

Cannon, P., & McCarthy. (n.d). Operations & supply chain management for the 21st century.

South-Western: Cengage Learning.

Holtsnider, B., & Jaffe, B. (2012). It manager's handbook: Getting your new job done.

Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Murphy, C., & Yates, J. (2009). The International Organization for Standardization (ISO): global governance through voluntary consensus. Oxford: Taylor & Francis.

Potoski, M. & Aseem, P. (2005). Covenants with weak swords: ISO 14001 and facilities' environmental performance. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 24, 745-769.

Potoski, M. & Aseem, P. (2009). Information asymmetries as trade barriers: ISO 9000 increases international commerce. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 28, 221238.