Why ISO Management System Standards Matter

Magnifying glass being used to examine documents submitted for ISO compliance

ISO Management System Standards (which we'll refer to simply as ISO standards) provide specifications, guidelines, or requirements for management systems, processes, operations, products, and services. Developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), they cover diverse fields such as quality assurance, environmental impact reduction, information security, workplace safety, food hygiene, and energy efficiency.

Benefits of Compliance with ISO Standards

Enhanced quality and consistency

ISO standards improve quality and consistency by providing a framework for effective management systems that promote consistent terminology, processes, and customer focus. This improves communication and encourages a systematic approach with continuous feedback-based improvement. Certified compliance with these standards provides vital reassurance of competence to prospective customers and buyers in a B2B environment.

Enhanced efficiency and productivity

ISO standards streamline processes for efficiency and productivity. Standardized practices eliminate confusion and redundancies while incorporating best practices to optimize workflows. Moreover, they promote a data-driven approach with clear objectives and performance tracking. This allows organizations to identify bottlenecks and continuously improve based on measurable data.

Increased customer satisfaction

ISO standards improve customer satisfaction by prioritizing customer needs. They ensure processes meet customer expectations and encourage collecting customer feedback and using them to push continuous improvement. This fosters a customer-centric culture, making satisfaction a top priority for all employees.

Improved international trade and interoperability

ISO standards bridge international trade and interoperability by establishing a common language through uniform specifications and terminology. They also reduce technical barriers to trade by harmonizing regulations, simplifying product certification, and granting access to global markets. This ensures that products meet globally recognized requirements, creating a level playing field for businesses regardless of their region.

Enhanced credibility and reputation for organizations

Adherence to ISO standards demonstrates a commitment to exceeding quality standards. Certification acts as independent verification while documented procedures ensure transparency – building trust and opening doors to new markets.

Is Compliance with ISO Standards Mandatory?

ISO standards are generally voluntary unless adopted by regulatory bodies or included in contracts or agreements. Organizations can choose to implement ISO standards to meet their specific needs and objectives, often through processes like certification or compliance audits conducted by accredited third-party organizations.

Do All Standards Come with Certification?

Not all standards are created equal when it comes to certification. Several factors determine a standard's suitability for it. Standards with clear, objective criteria and auditable processes, like those found in management systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, etc.), are ideal for certification. The process of getting certified itself also plays a role.

Established accreditation mechanisms and recognized certification bodies make certification to a particular standard more credible. Market forces, industry norms, and regulatory requirements further affect suitability. Widely adopted standards with stakeholder recognition often have well-developed certification programs, and standards aligned with regulations may have established programs to ensure compliance.

List of ISO Standards

ISO has a vast library of meticulously crafted standards to address various industries' specific needs and challenges. The following table provides a glimpse into some of the most common ISO standards, outlining their core purpose and the industries where they can be most effectively applied.

Search Table

ISO Standard	Description	Industries Where it Can Apply
Name of Standard	Description	Applicable Industries
ISO 9712	Non-destructive testing - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel	Aerospace industry (e.g., aircraft inspection) Automotive industry (e.g., vehicle component testing) Oil and gas industry (e.g., pipeline integrity assessment) Power generation industry (e.g., nuclear plant inspections) Manufacturing industry (e.g., quality control of welded components) Rail transportation industry (e.g., inspection of railway tracks and components) Shipbuilding industry (e.g., hull and weld inspections) Power transmission industry (e.g., inspection of power lines and towers) Nuclear industry (e.g., inspection of reactor components) Infrastructure construction industry (e.g., bridge and tunnel inspections)
ISO 12100	Safety of machinery - General principles for design - Risk assessment and risk reduction	Manufacturing industry (e.g., machine tool production) Construction industry (e.g., heavy equipment manufacturing) Agriculture industry (e.g., farm machinery manufacturing) Mining industry (e.g., equipment manufacturing and operation) Food processing industry (e.g., packaging machinery) Woodworking industry (e.g., woodworking machinery manufacturers) Chemical processing industry (e.g., chemical reactor safety) Textile printing industry (e.g., textile printing machine safety) Plastics manufacturing industry (e.g., injection molding machine safety) Metal fabrication industry (e.g., metal stamping machine safety)
ISO 13485	Medical devices - Quality management systems	Medical device manufacturing industry (e.g., implantable devices) Healthcare institutions (e.g., hospitals and clinics) Pharmaceutical industry (e.g., drug delivery devices) Biotechnology industry (e.g., diagnostic equipment) Dental equipment manufacturing industry Orthopedic device manufacturing industry Cardiovascular device manufacturing industry Neurology device manufacturing industry Ophthalmic device manufacturing industry Rehabilitation device manufacturing industry
ISO 13849	Safety of machinery - Safety-related parts of control systems	Foundry industry (e.g., foundry equipment safety) Glass manufacturing industry (e.g., glass forming machine safety) Pharmaceutical packaging industry (e.g., pharmaceutical packaging line safety) Semiconductor manufacturing industry (e.g., wafer fabrication equipment safety) Chemical storage and handling industry (e.g., chemical tank safety) Robotics industry (e.g., industrial robot manufacturers) Automation industry (e.g., automated production lines) Packaging industry (e.g., packaging machinery manufacturers) Textile industry (e.g., textile machinery manufacturers) Printing industry (e.g., printing press manufacturers)
ISO 14000	Environmental management systems	Mining industry (e.g., mining operations environmental management) Energy industry (e.g., power generation facilities) Fisheries industry (e.g., sustainable fishing practices) Tourism industry (e.g., eco-friendly tourism initiatives) Urban planning and development industry (e.g., sustainable city planning) Automotive manufacturing industry (e.g., automotive assembly plant environmental management) Electronics recycling industry (e.g., electronic waste recycling facilities) Aerospace manufacturing industry (e.g., aircraft manufacturing plant environmental management) Chemical distribution industry (e.g., chemical storage facility environmental management) Food packaging industry (e.g., food packaging manufacturing plant environmental management)
ISO 14001	Environmental management systems - Requirements with guidance for use
ISO 14064	Greenhouse gases - Part 1: Specification with guidance at the organization level for quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and removals	Energy industry (e.g., oil and gas production) Manufacturing industry (e.g., heavy industry emissions tracking) Transportation industry (e.g., vehicle fleet emissions management) Agriculture industry (e.g., livestock methane emissions monitoring) Waste management industry (e.g., landfill emissions reduction) Cement manufacturing industry (e.g., cement production emissions reduction) Steel production industry (e.g., steel manufacturing emissions reduction) Dairy farming industry (e.g., methane emissions reduction from dairy cows) Renewable energy industry (e.g., wind and solar farm emissions monitoring) Carbon offsetting industry (e.g., carbon offset project validation and verification)
ISO 14971	Medical devices - Application of risk management to medical devices	Biomedical engineering industry (e.g., medical device design firms) Regulatory compliance consulting firms Clinical research organizations (CROs) Medical device testing laboratories Healthcare technology management departments in hospitals Dental implant manufacturing industry Imaging equipment manufacturing industry Surgical instrument manufacturing industry Laboratory equipment manufacturing industry Implantable cardiac device manufacturing industry
ISO 15926	Industrial automation systems and integration - Integration of life-cycle data for process plants including oil and gas production facilities	Oil and gas industry (e.g., upstream exploration and production) Petrochemical industry (e.g., refinery operations) Chemical processing industry (e.g., batch and continuous manufacturing) Power generation industry (e.g., coal-fired and nuclear power plants) Water and wastewater treatment industry Pulp and paper industry (e.g., paper mill automation) Mining automation industry (e.g., automated mining equipment) Food processing automation industry (e.g., automated food packaging lines) Chemical manufacturing automation industry (e.g., chemical plant control systems) Renewable energy automation industry (e.g., automated solar panel manufacturing)
ISO 19011	Guidelines for auditing management systems	Consulting firms specializing in management systems auditing Certification bodies offering auditing services Regulatory agencies overseeing compliance in various industries Corporate internal audit departments Quality management professionals in manufacturing and service industries Healthcare industry (e.g., hospitals auditing patient safety systems) Education sector (e.g., auditing of educational quality management systems) Financial services industry (e.g., auditing of financial risk management systems) Telecommunications industry (e.g., auditing of network security management systems) Government agencies (e.g., auditing of public service delivery systems)
ISO 19600	Compliance management systems - Guidelines	Banking and financial services industry Pharmaceutical industry Energy and utilities sector Telecommunications industry Retail and consumer goods sector Automotive industry Healthcare and medical devices industry Aerospace and defense sector Construction and engineering industry Government and public sector
ISO 20000	IT service management	Information technology consulting firms Software development companies Managed IT services providers Telecommunications service providers Financial services organizations Healthcare IT departments Government IT agencies Educational institutions IT departments Retail industry IT departments Transportation and logistics companies
ISO 2014	Hard coal and coke - Mechanical sampling	Mining companies (coal extraction) Energy generation plants (coal-fired power plants) Steel manufacturing industry (coke production) Cement manufacturing industry (coal usage) Chemical processing plants (coal as raw material) Foundries and metal casting industry (coke usage) Paper and pulp industry (coal for energy) Ceramics industry (coal-fired kilns) Textile manufacturing (coal as energy source) Food processing industry (coal as energy source for steam generation)
ISO 20121	Event sustainability management systems	Event management companies Concert and festival organizers Trade show and exhibition organizers Sports event organizers Corporate event planners Government event organizers Wedding and party planners Non-profit organizations hosting events Conference organizers Venue management companies
ISO 20126	Dentistry - Manual toothbrushes - General requirements and test methods	Dental product manufacturers Dental equipment suppliers Dental hygiene product retailers Dental clinics and practices Oral care product research and development organizations Dental schools and educational institutions Dental hygiene product testing laboratories Dental associations and professional bodies Pharmaceutical companies producing oral care products Government health departments regulating oral care products
ISO 22000	Food safety management systems	Food processing companies Beverage manufacturing industry Dairy product producers Meat and poultry processing plants Seafood processing and packaging facilities Bakery and confectionery industry Restaurant chains and catering services Retail food outlets and supermarkets Food packaging and labeling companies Agricultural production and farming operations
ISO 22100	Food safety management systems - Requirements for any organization in the food chain	Agricultural industry (farms and plantations) Food transportation and logistics companies Food storage and warehousing facilities Food ingredient suppliers and distributors Food packaging manufacturers Food service providers (catering companies, restaurants) Food retail industry (supermarkets, grocery stores) Food testing laboratories Food import/export companies Food safety regulatory agencies
ISO 22301	Business continuity management systems	Banking and financial institutions Insurance companies Information technology companies Telecommunications service providers Healthcare providers and hospitals Government agencies Manufacturing companies Transportation and logistics companies Retail and consumer goods sector Energy and utilities companies
ISO 27001	Information security management systems	Financial institutions (banks, insurance companies) Healthcare organizations (hospitals, clinics) Government agencies (defense, intelligence) Information technology companies Telecommunications service providers Retail and e-commerce companies Legal firms and law enforcement agencies Educational institutions (universities, schools) Energy and utilities sector Manufacturing and supply chain companies
ISO/IEC 27002	Information technology - Security techniques - Code of practice for information security controls	Software development companies Cloud service providers Data centers and hosting companies Cybersecurity consulting firms Network security companies IT infrastructure management companies E-commerce platforms Mobile app development companies Internet service providers Social media and online platforms
ISO 28000	Specification for security management systems for the supply chain	Logistics and transportation industry Shipping and freight forwarding companies Warehousing and distribution centers Retail and e-commerce supply chains Manufacturing and production facilities with global supply chains Pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chains Food and beverage supply chains Automotive industry supply chains Electronics and technology supply chains Energy and utilities sector supply chains
ISO 28001	Security management systems for the supply chain	Freight transportation companies (road, air, sea) Customs and border security agencies Import/export companies and logistics providers High-value goods manufacturers (luxury goods, electronics) Chemical and hazardous materials transportation companies Pharmaceutical supply chain partners Retail chains with extensive distribution networks Food distribution and cold chain logistics companies Energy infrastructure supply chain operators Defense and aerospace industry supply chains
ISO 39001	Road traffic safety management systems - Requirements with guidance for use	Transportation and logistics companies Government transportation departments and agencies Road construction and maintenance companies Public transportation operators (buses, trains) Fleet management companies Taxi and ride-sharing companies Emergency response and ambulance services Road safety advocacy organizations Vehicle rental and leasing companies Insurance companies specializing in auto insurance
ISO 4120	Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs - Horizontal method for the enumeration of psychrotrophic microorganisms	Food processing industry (e.g., meat processing plants) Dairy industry (e.g., milk processing facilities) Beverage manufacturing industry (e.g., soft drink production) Agricultural industry (e.g., crop cultivation and processing) Seafood processing industry (e.g., fish and seafood processing) Bakery and confectionery industry (e.g., bread and pastry production) Pharmaceutical industry (e.g., production of dietary supplements) Pet food manufacturing industry Animal feed production and processing industry Food safety regulatory agencies and laboratories
ISO 45001	Occupational health and safety management systems	Construction industry Manufacturing industry Healthcare sector (hospitals, clinics) Oil and gas industry Mining industry Transportation and logistics sector Chemical processing industry Agriculture and forestry industry Utilities sector (water, electricity) Retail and service industries
ISO 45002	Occupational health and safety management systems - General guidelines for the application of ISO 45001	Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in various industries Construction contractors and subcontractors Office-based businesses Startups and technology firms Consulting and professional services firms Non-profit organizations and charities Educational institutions (schools, colleges) Restaurants and food service establishments Artisan and craft businesses Home-based businesses
ISO 50001	Energy management systems	Manufacturing industry (e.g., automotive, aerospace) Chemical processing industry Food and beverage processing industry Pharmaceutical industry Textile and garment manufacturing industry Energy production and distribution companies Commercial real estate sector Hospitality industry (hotels, resorts) Educational institutions (schools, universities) Government buildings and facilities
ISO 50002	Energy audits - Requirements with guidance for use	Energy consulting firms Engineering and architectural firms Energy service companies (ESCOs) Facility management companies Energy utilities and providers Environmental consulting firms Regulatory agencies overseeing energy efficiency Energy efficiency advocacy organizations Building owners and property managers Industrial facility operators
ISO 50003	Energy management systems - Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of energy management systems	Certification bodies providing energy management system audits Accreditation bodies overseeing energy management system certification Energy consulting firms offering implementation support Industry associations promoting energy efficiency Government agencies providing guidance on energy management Research institutions studying energy management practices Training organizations offering courses on energy management Sustainability-focused organizations encouraging energy conservation Energy management software providers Energy efficiency program administrators
ISO 50004	Energy management systems - Guidance for the implementation, maintenance, and improvement of an energy management system	Organizations implementing ISO 50001 energy management systems Energy managers and coordinators within companies Sustainability teams and departments Facilities management teams Environmental health and safety (EHS) departments Quality management teams Corporate social responsibility (CSR) departments Operations and production management teams Engineering and maintenance departments Procurement and supply chain management teams
ISO 55001	Asset management - Management systems - Requirements	Utilities industry (electricity, water, gas) Transportation industry (airlines, railways, shipping) Oil and gas industry (exploration, production, distribution) Manufacturing industry (heavy machinery, equipment) Infrastructure management (roads, bridges, airports) Telecommunications industry (network infrastructure) Healthcare sector (medical equipment, facilities) Financial services (investment portfolios, asset management) Real estate industry (property management) Government agencies (public infrastructure assets)
ISO 9001	Quality management systems - Requirements	Service industry (hospitality, consulting) Education sector (schools, universities) Government agencies (public administration) Retail industry (stores, online commerce) Logistics and transportation (freight forwarding, shipping) Professional services (legal, accounting) Software development industry Health and wellness industry (fitness centers, spas) Event management industry Non-profit organizations (NGOs, charities)
ISO 9002	Quality systems - Model for quality assurance in production, installation, and servicing	Manufacturing industry (automotive parts, machinery) Construction industry (building materials, installation) Service industry (maintenance, repair) Electronics industry (assembly, testing) Chemical industry (production, packaging) Textile industry (fabrication, finishing) Printing industry (publishing, printing services) Medical device industry (production, assembly) Food processing industry (manufacturing, packaging) Aerospace industry (component manufacturing)
ISO 9003	Software engineering - Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2000 to computer software	Software development companies IT consulting firms Technology startups Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers Enterprise software vendors Mobile app development companies Web development agencies Video game development studios Open-source software projects IT departments within organizations
ISO 9004	Quality management - Quality of an organization - Guidance to achieve sustained success	Continuous improvement initiatives in various industries Management consulting firms focusing on organizational excellence Quality management training and education providers Benchmarking and performance measurement organizations Government agencies promoting quality standards Industry associations and professional bodies Research institutions studying organizational effectiveness Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies Corporate governance and ethics organizations Customer service and satisfaction improvement programs
ISO 9005	Quality management systems - Guidelines for the application of ISO 9001:2000 to the development, supply, and maintenance of software	Software development companies IT service providers Software maintenance and support companies Software testing and quality assurance firms Software product vendors and distributors Custom software development companies Software documentation and training providers Software project management firms Software integration and deployment specialists Software localization and internationalization companies
ISO 31000	Risk management	Banking and financial services industry Insurance industry Healthcare sector (hospitals, clinics) Construction industry Information technology industry Manufacturing industry Energy and utilities sector Government agencies Transportation and logistics industry Aerospace and defense industry
ISO 17025		Environmental testing laboratories Food testing laboratories Pharmaceutical testing laboratories Materials testing laboratories (metals, polymers, ceramics) Electrical testing laboratories Mechanical testing laboratories Chemical analysis laboratories Biological testing laboratories Forensic testing laboratories Metrology laboratories (calibration services)

ISO Standards That You Can Get Certified to:

Achieving ISO certification for a specific standard is a strong demonstration of a company's dedication to excellence. By going through the rigorous process of implementation and earning certification, a company demonstrates its commitment to all-around excellence, covering quality, safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement. Below are some examples of ISO standards that your organization or you, as an individual, can get certified to.