Standard

What is a Standard?

A standard represents a unified and generally recognized way in which a product or process is manufactured, documented, or carried out. An innovation must have clearly prevailed over alternative methods or approaches to be considered a standard. The term is mainly used in connection with new technologies and agile methods for defining objectives.

Standards result from standardization processes that have already been completed and represent tried and tested approaches. The approaches position innovations quickly and effectively on the market and thus represent the shortest path from development to the finished product.

Standardizing operational processes increases production efficiency in many cases, as is the case with ISO 9001, for example. Once a standard has been introduced, the processes can be presented transparently and within certain framework conditions are also comparable. Before it comes to that, however, basic terms should be defined so that a safe interface is created to all executing bodies in a sequence chain.

For example, if you want to use an English standard in a German industrial company, the question arises of how and whether Anglicisms are translated so that all those responsible and users can actually implement the standard and participate in it.

Standards are proven best practices that are created by independent bodies to help organizations introduce more effective and efficient management systems and thereby improve their business.

The most widely used standards are used in the following areas:

  • in quality management, to make work processes more efficient, to guarantee uniform quality standards and to reduce errors.
  • in environmental management, to save costs and reduce emissions, waste and wastewater.
  • in occupational health and safety, to prevent accidents and illnesses and reduce downtime.
  • in IT security, so that communication and confidential data are better protected.
  • in construction, to ensure the safe and efficient construction of houses.
  • in energy management, to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.
  • in food safety, to reduce risk and build trust.
  • in ​​business continuity management, to prevent incidents and always ensure operational readiness.

Standards not only encompass the concentrated knowledge of leading market specialists but are also powerful tools that promote innovation and competitiveness, make work processes simpler, safer, and healthier and increase productivity in the long term.

As a globally recognized seal of quality, standards are widely recognized by customers, associations, employees, partners, and suppliers as well as by authorities, company evaluations and other stakeholders.