ISO? What is it and Why Does it Matter?

By Fay Capstick

You might have seen ISO referred to. This will usually be a business saying they have achieved ISO followed by a number. But what does ISO actually mean? This week we shall be diving into the world of ISO. We will learn what it is, why it matters, and how it relates to Parker Shaw.

Let’s get started!

So, what is ISO?

ISO refers to the International Organization for Standardization, and yes it is ISO and not IOS (no idea why). The role of ISO is to provide organisations with guidelines for standards that they can achieve that will be globally recognised.

What is the history of the International Organization for Standardization?

When did ISO start? All the way back in February 1947, so not long after the Second World War. Before that date, they were ISA (the International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations). They were suspended in 1942, due to the war. People from 25 countries met in 1946 in London to agree to start ISO.

ISO is now huge! They have generated 25,000 international standards, which is mindblowing. They cover all areas of technology and manufacturing, and have 800 committees who develop and monitor the standards!

What don’t they do? One area that they don’t cover is electrics. But do not fear, there is an organisation that covers that, the International Electrotechnical Commission.

There are three official languages of ISO: French, English, and Russian. And ISO is based in Switzerland. Interestingly, ISO is the shortened name in every country regardless of which language is used, thus making the organisation easier for everyone to identify.

Fun fact: Apparently, ISO comes from the Greek isos, meaning ‘equal’.

How are they structured?

ISO is voluntary. Members are experts on standards, and there is one per country. They meet annually. A council oversees everything and provides guidance. There are currently 167 member countries, so it is truly international.

There is actually three types of member: Member bodies, are the first and they are the only ones who can vote.Correspondent members do not participate in standards promotion. The third category is subscriber members. These tend to be smaller countries economically and they pay reduced membership costs. This means that your country can be a “P” or “O” member: participating or observing.

How is ISO funded?

It is largely through subscriptions from the member countries. The cost they pay is weighted to reflect their trade figures. They also sell copies of their standards to companies who want to be assessed, which provides income. The cost of buying an ISO standard document is approximately £130 and they are single-user licences.

What do ISO produce?

They produce technical specifications (the standards), guides, and technical reports. These will all be essential to companies trying to achieve ISO standards in their business.

So, what is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 relates to quality management systems. It helps businesses improve their performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate their ‘commitment to quality’. It shows that a business has been able to ‘establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system (QMS)’. This is an area that PS excels in and we are thrilled that we are going to be able to have that officially recognised.

Over 1 million organisations have already achieved ISO 9001 in 189 countries, meaning we will have an internationally recognised standard to illustrate our commitment to quality worldwide.

What are we doing at Parker Shaw?

At Parker Shaw we are excited to announce that we are working towards achieving ISO 9001. We take our commitment to our candidates and clients seriously, and we hope achieving this standard will be an extra reassurance that we do things properly.

What are the benefits to a business and their clients and customers of having ISO 9001?

It means that we will have excellent quality control processes. This brings customer satisfaction and trust in our internal processes. It will help with the smooth functioning of the business, reducing waste, streamlining processes, cost savings, and better decision-making.
The whole process is regularly reviewed to make sure that businesses are keeping on track. Basically, it is a win-win for the business and their clients and customers, everyone benefits from having and using a business that is ISO 9001 compliant.

What do we think?

We are excited to be on this journey. The main goal of ISO 9001 is to meet customer expectations with the aim to exceed them. At Parker Shaw we have always had this goal at the core of our business, it is what drives us, and we are thrilled that we have an opportunity to achieve formal recognition of this.

Final thoughts

At Parker Shaw we have been at the forefront of the sector we serve, IT & Digital Recruitment and Consulting, for over 30 years. We can advise you on all your hiring needs. If you are looking for your next job in the IT sector please check our Jobs Board for our current live vacancies at https://parkershaw.co.uk/jobs-board.