betatek.com.au

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is the world's largest developer and publisher of International Standards. ISO began operations on 23 February 1947.

ISO is a network of the national standards institutes of more than 150 countries, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. More than 100 of ISO's members are from developing countries.

Every full member of ISO has the right to take part in the development of any standard which it judges to be important to its country's economy. No matter what the size or strength of that economy, each participating member in ISO has one vote.

ISO has more than 16 500 International Standards in its current portfolio. ISO's work programme ranges from standards for traditional activities, such as agriculture and construction, through mechanical engineering, manufacturing and distribution, to transport, medical devices, the environment, safety, information and communication technologies, and to standards for good practice and for services.

ISO launches the development of new standards in response to the sectors that express a clearly established need for them.

From the ISO site: "For businesses, the widespread adoption of International Standards means that suppliers can develop and offer products and services meeting specifications that have wide international acceptance in their sectors. Therefore, businesses using International Standards can compete on many more markets around the world."

Here are some links to ISO Standards on their web site:

- Generalities, Terminology, Standardization, & Documentation
www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_ics/catalogue_ics_browse.htm?ICS1=01

- Information technology & Office machines
http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_ics/catalogue_ics_browse.htm?ICS1=35