Organisations benefit from being certified to international
standards in a number of ways.
1 The trade and commercial benefits are fairly obvious
as they establish immediate credibility with trading partners and demonstrate
competency. In many instances suppliers may be required to be certified
to participate in a supply chain or engage in contract tendering.
2 Recently, there has been increasing demand for certification for internal
reasons or good corporate governance. Legislative and compliance issues
in many fields and the implications for directors and management have
increased the onus on companies to identify and manage business risks
of this type. One solution is to implement a recognized management system
which will systematically capture and address the concerns.
3 Some businesses may also be in a position to negotiate reductions
in insurance premiums as a direct result of having a certified system
in place which identifies and manages the business risks.
At the international level, standards are becoming
a pillar of the new global trade system. As barriers to trade and investment
are eliminated and information technologies continue to evolve, standardization
is taking on an increasingly important role in global affairs. At the
same time, new international agreements are setting out guidelines for
an expanding range of issues including,quality, health & safety,
the environment and the protection of privacy.
The use of international standards helps to reduce trade barriers.
There is potential for standardization to reduce the costs of regulation,
facilitate internal and external trade and technology transfer and enhance
the competitiveness of an organisation.
Technological advances and the globalisation of economies have given
rise to a range of new issues. Recently, standardization processes and
products have been applied increasingly to areas such as genetically
modified foods and the electronic marketplace.
In the international arena, standardization is becoming an increasingly
important tool for competitiveness, across all industrial sectors from
manufacturing to IT and communication.
International standards are powerful tools, providing a mechanism for
meeting the quality, environmental and health & safety obligations
of both producers and consumers of goods and services.
Evidence is emerging that some multinational companies are making compliance
with international standards a requirement for their suppliers.
About Certification
Benefits of Certification
