Specifications science
Specifications mean the characteristics and special features of the product or service to perform a specific purpose, and the specifications are considered a language of understanding and a means of communication with all links dealing with the product or service.
The ISO guide and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC / ISO) define a standard as a document prepared on the basis of agreement, approved by a recognized organization to provide (for repeated use) rules, instructions or characteristics related to activities or their results with the aim of achieving the optimum degree of the system in a specific framework.
Content of the standard
Standard specifications differ in their nature and subject, as well as in the medium in which they are recorded. The standard specifications:
It includes many fields: it deals with all technical, economic and social aspects of human activities. It covers all basic disciplines such as language sciences, sports, physics and … etc.
Consistent and logical: it is formulated by technical committees in coordination with a specialized body and in a way that ensures overcoming obstacles between the various activities and disciplines.
Resulting from participation: Standard specifications reflect the results of joint research and studies and include all competent authorities before approval and agreement on them to represent the interests of all concerned parties: producers, users, laboratories, government agencies, consumers…etc.
It represents an active and effective process: Standard specifications are based on real experiences and reach tangible results in practical reality (dealing with products such as goods, services, test methods, etc.) as they provide a compromise between technical data and prevailing economic obstacles.
They are updated in a periodic manner: Standard specifications are updated in a periodic manner, according to circumstances, or whenever necessary to ensure that they keep pace with the present situation, which makes them evolve to suit technological and social developments.
They are considered reference documents: for commercial contracts or in cases of legal disputes, the standards enjoy recognition at the national as well as the international levels, as the standards are considered documents recognized nationally, regionally and internationally, depending on the cases.
Available to all: standards can be viewed and obtained without any restrictions or conditions.
The role of the standard
In general, standards are not mandatory, but are available for implementation as an option. And it becomes compulsory in some cases (areas related to security, electrical equipment, in the field of government contracts….)
Types of standards
Four main types of standards can be mentioned:
Basic standards related to terminology, metrology, agreements, signs, symbols, etc
Standard specifications related to methods of testing, analysis and measurement of properties.
Standard specifications that define product characteristics (product specifications) or service specifications (service specifications), as well as those that specify the required performance limits (usability, aspects of product interchangeability, health, safety, environmental preservation, model contract, documents accompanying products or services, and ……etc)
Organizing specifications relating to the description of the various functions of institutions and the interrelationships between them as well as the forms of activity (quality management, maintenance, value analysis, dynamic operations, project or systems management, production management, ……… etc.)
Standard life cycle
In general, the standard preparation process includes seven main stages:
1. Determining the needs: It is possible, according to the sector, to analyze the adequacy of the specifications and study the feasibility of preparing them from the technical and economic points of view, based on two crucial questions: Does the standard add anything to the concerned sector from the technical and economic aspects?
Is there sufficient knowledge available to formulate the standard specification?
2. Collective programming: Studying the needs identified and the priorities identified by the parties facilitates the decision to include the subject in the work program of the concerned body.
3. Preparing a draft standard: by the concerned parties represented by experts (including producers, users, laboratories, government agencies, consumers…etc.) who meet within the framework of the standardization committees.
4. Expert agreement on the draft standard
5. Approval: Broad consultations at the national or international level, as the case may be, in the form of a general survey that takes into account all economic parties to ensure that the draft standard is consistent with the public interest and does not face major objections. Examining the results and observations received on the project, and then finalizing the text of the draft standard.
6. Approval of the blade to be published as standard
7. Revision: The application of all standards is subject to a periodic assessment of their suitability by the entity concerned with standardization, which provides an opportunity in a timely manner to know whether the standard requires revision to suit the new requirements. After revision, the standard can be kept without changes, modified or canceled.
Copyright and usage rights
National Standard Specifications:
The standard represents a team work. The national standard is studied and programmed under the supervision of the National Organization for Standardization. which you publish, which gives it protection, since the emergence of the draft standard, based on the author’s rights enjoyed by the supervising authority.
International Standard Specifications:
Since the preparation of the draft committee, the international standards have enjoyed protection under the copyrights issued by the international organizations for standardization (ISO, IEC). The rights to exploit copyright are transferred directly to the national standardization organizations that are members of ISO or IEC for the preparation of national standard specifications. It is imperative for the national apparatus to take the necessary measures to protect the intellectual property of ISO and IEC organizations at the national level. Every draft international standard and every published international standard includes a copyright declaration attached to an international copyright symbol along with the name and date of the publishing house.
re
Publication:
With the exception of some exceptional cases provided for, it is not possible to republish, record or transmit any specification, even in part, and in any capacity or form, electronic or mechanical, including all methods of copying and photocopying, except with the written consent of the concerned national or international authority.
Use of public networks, including the Internet:
At the national, regional or international level, it is necessary to consult the National Organization for Standardization before opening any electronic network, public or private (Internet, Intranet, and the like) for the purpose of publishing, transferring or exchanging texts or parts thereof related to standard specifications, inside or outside the framework of standardization work. In all cases, there is an explicit commitment to follow the recommendations of the national or international body for standardization every time public or private networks are used.
The role of standardization
Currently, standardization is considered one of the most important areas necessary for all parties involved in economic activities that need to participate in its activities and results. Twenty years ago standardization was limited to specialists only. But now it has become an essential element of the commercial and technical elements of the institutions, as the companies are growing aware of the need to play an effective role in this field or willingness to accept standard specifications that they were not a party to preparing or that do not take into account the interests of these companies.
Quality claim
After its appearance in the fifties, the demand for quality grew more and more to become an effective element within the framework of the competitive system. It is easy to compare prices, while comparing quality levels remains a complex matter, which makes the existence of a unanimously recognized reference system in the field of quality as a tool for crystallizing matters. The standard plays exactly this role.
Technical and technological development:
Another element behind the growth of standardization is the emergence of new techniques and technologies. All technologies related to informatics or dealing with it and transmitting it remotely (data processing, communications, information highways, …, etc.) require the establishment of networks. The development of other technologies based on networks (electronic transmission) is linked to the extent to which users accept unified rules for the exchange of uses. Where these technologies play an important role in the economies of developed countries, as is the case, for example, with regard to the exchange of programmed information or through the computer.
Standardization at the international, regional and national levels
The process of coordinating actions at all these levels is carried out through joint structures and cooperation agreements:
× The most important bodies specialized in standardization at the international, regional and national levels:
International organizations and bodies
Short name
regional organizations
Short name
International Organization for Standardization
ISO
African Regional Organization for Standardization
ARSO
International Electrotechnical Commission
IEC
Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining
aidmo
Codex Alimentarius Committee
CODEX
European Organization for Standardization
CEN
WTO
WTO
European Electrotechnical Commission
CENELEC
International Trade Centre
ITC
European Telecom Standards Institute
ETSI
International Organization for Legal Standards
OIML
Standardization Organization for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
GSO
American Society for Materials and Testing
ASTM
Latin American Institute of Quality
LAQI
International Federation of Users of Standards
IFAN
International Accreditation Forum
IAF
Arab Standards Organizations
Short name
foreign standards bodies
Short name
Libyan National Center for Standards and Standards
LNCSM
German Standards Agency
DIN
Algerian Institute for Standardization
IANOR
American Standards Authority
ANSI
Tunisian Institute of Standards and Industrial Property
INORPI
Italian Standards Authority
UNI
Saudi Arabian Organization for Standardization and Metrology
SASO
British Standards Authority
BSI
Public Authority for Industry in Kuwait
PAI
French Standards Authority
AFNOR
Lebanese Standards Institution
LIBNOR
Indian Standards Authority
bis
Jordan Standards Institution
jism
Japanese Standards Agency
JIS
Palestinian Standards Institution
PSI
Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology
ESMA
Moroccan Standards Authority
SNIMA
Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization
SASMO
Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Sultanate of Oman
Mocioman
Standardization at the national, regional and international levels
international standardization
ISO organization
It was established in 1947 and represents an international federation of national standardization organizations that currently has more than 140 members, one from each country. The mission of ISO is to encourage the development of standardization and related activities in the world with the aim of facilitating the exchange of goods and services as well as to achieve a common understanding in the intellectual, scientific, technical and economic fields. Its work is related to all areas of standardization except for the electrical and electrotechnical standards that are under the custody of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
ISO includes more than 2800 technical bodies (technical committees, sub-committees, working groups and specialized groups). ISO has published more than 13,000 international standards to date.
International Electrotechnical Commission IEC
It was established in 1906 and its responsibilities include international standardization in the fields of electrical, electronic and related technologies. Its charter covers all areas of electrical technology, including electronic, magnetic, electromagnetic, communications, and energy production and distribution. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) includes more than 50 members, each representing his country within national committees that fully represent the interests of their countries in the electrotechnical field. NECs enjoy broad industry support and are recognized by governments.
To date, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has published more than 4,500 specifications.
International Telecommunication Union I.T.U
The beginning of the establishment of the I.T.U organization dates back to the year 1865. I.T.U is one of the nations organizations
specialized unit. It was established in 1947 and currently has nearly 180 member countries and more than 400 members from various sectors. It prepares the international recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union in the field of telecommunications and wireless communications
I.T.U’s headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland.
Other international organizations that have activities in the field of standards:
There are a large number of international organizations associated with ISO and the International Electrotechnical Commission, which are involved to various degrees in its work. Many of these organizations have their own activity in the field of standardization according to their internationally recognized terms of reference. In many cases, the standardization work emanating from these organizations is reported to the ISO systems and the International Electrotechnical Commission, where it is published by the latter. While some of these organizations publish their own standard specifications that must be considered when examining international standardization systems.
International organizations and bodies
Short name
full name
website
International Organization for Standardization
ISO
International Organization for Standardization
http://www.iso.org
International Electrotechnical Commission
IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission
http://www.iec.ch
Codex Alimentarius Committee
CODEX
The Codex Alimentarius Commission
http://www.codexalimentarius.net
WTO
WTO
The World Trade Organization
http://www.wto.org
International Trade Centre
ITC
International Trade Centre
http://www.intracen.org
International Organization for Legal Standards
OIML
International Organization of Legal Metrology
http://www.oiml.org
American Society for Materials and Testing
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials
http://www.astm.org
International Federation of Users of Standards
IFAN
International Federation of Standards Users
http://www.ifan.org
International Accreditation Forum
IAF
International Accreditation Forum
Regional standardization:
in Europe:
European Standardization Organization C.E.N
C.E.N. was established in 1961 and is working on preparing international standards through the 18 European standardization institutes. C.E.N. has witnessed remarkable development with the establishment of the European Union. The Authority’s headquarters are in Brussels – Belgium.
The Technical Bureau carries out the process of coordination, planning and programming of works that are formulated by the working organs (technical and sub-committees and working groups) through secretariats distributed among the various member states. C.E.N. has more than 250 technical committees and has published no less than 2,400 documents, including 2,100 European standards. While there are more than 9000 documents currently under study.
CENELEC European Organization for Standardization in the Electrotechnical Field
It was established in 1959 and its headquarters is in Brussels – Belgium. The European Organization for Standardization in the Electrotechnical Field, CENELEC, operates in the electrotechnical field, similar to the CEN organization.
The European Institute for Telecommunications Standardization (ETSI).
The European Institute for Telecommunications Standardization (ETSI) develops European standards in the field of telecommunications (European ETSI Telecom Standards). It is based in Sophia Antipolis, France.
ETSI has 400 members (management, operations, research agencies, industrialists, users) representing more than 30 countries (European Union, European Free Trade Area, Eastern Europe).
in America:
The American Organization for Standardization (COPANT):
COPANT is a non-commercial public benefit association. It enjoys complete independence in its management and an unlimited period of time. One of its main objectives is the development of technical standardization and related activities within the member countries in order to facilitate industrial, scientific and technological development for the benefit of commercial exchanges for goods and services as well as to consolidate cooperation in the intellectual, scientific and social fields.
The body coordinates the activities of the standardization institutes within Latin American countries. It also issues all kinds of product specifications, test methods, terminology and related topics. The Authority’s headquarters are in Buenos Aires – Argentina.
Single Market of the South: MERCOSUR
Known under the names MERCOSUR in Spanish and MERCOSUL in Portuguese. This single market consists of the economies of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Its main objectives revolve around improving the economies of member states and improving their viability and competitiveness through expanding markets and stimulating the process of economic development using the best available resources, preserving the environment, improving communications, coordinating economic policies and creating harmony between the various economic sectors.
The permanent headquarters of the organization is in Montevideo. Uruguay.
regional organizations
Short name
full name
website
African Regional Organization for Standardization
ARSO
The African Organization for Standardisation
http://www.arso-oran.org
Arab Organization for Industrial Development and Mining
aidmo
Arabic Industrial Development and Mining Organization
http://www.aidmo.org
European Organization for Standardization
CEN
The European Committee for Standardization
http://www.cen.eu
European Electrotechnical Commission
CENELEC
the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
http://www.cenelec.eu
European Telecom Standards Institute
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
http://www.etsi.org
Standardization Organization for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
GSO
Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Standardization Organization
Latin American Institute of Quality
LAQI
Latin American Quality Institute
http://www.laqi.org
Standardization at the national level:
Each country has a national system of standardization: the central body or the most representative body participates in regional and international organizations.
foreign standards bodies
Short name
full name
website
German Standards Agency
DIN
Deutsche Institut für Normung
(The German Institute for Standardization)
http://www.din.de
American Standards Authority
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
http://www.ansi.org
Italian Standards Authority
UNI
It’s Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione
(The Italian Organization for Standardization)
British Standards Authority
BSI
British Standards Institution
http://www.bsi-global.com
French Standards Authority
AFNOR
Association française de normalization
(The French National Organization for Standardization)
Indian Standards Authority
bis
Bureau of Indian Standards
http://www.bis.org.in
Japanese Standards Agency
JIS
Japanese Standards Association
http://www.jsa.or.jp
Arab Standards Organizations
Short name
full name
website
The Egyptian General Organization for Standardization and Quality
EOS
Egyptian Organization for Standards and Quality
http://www.eos.org.eg
Libyan National Center for Standards and Standards
LNCSM
The Libyan National Center for Standardization and Metrology
http://www.lncsm.org.ly
Algerian Institute for Standardization
IANOR
Institute of Algerian Normalization
(Algerian Institute of Standardization)
Tunisian Institute of Standards and Industrial Property
INORPI
Institut National de la Normalization et de la Propriété Industrielle
(National Institute for Standardization and Industrial Property)
http://www.innorpi.tn
Saudi Arabian Organization for Standardization and Metrology
SASO
Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization
http://www.saso.org.sa
Public Authority for Industry in Kuwait
PAI
Public Authority for Industry
http://www.pai.gov.kw
Lebanese Standards Institution
LIBNOR
Lebanese Standards Institution
http://www.libnor.org
Jordan Standards Institution
jism
Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology
http://www.jism.gov.jo
Palestinian Standards Institution
PSI
Palestinian Standards Institution
http://www.psi.gov.ps
Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology
ESMA
Emirates Authority Standardization and Metrology
http://www.esma.ae
Moroccan Standards Authority
SNIMA
Service of Normalization of the Marocaine Industry
(Industrial Service for Moroccan Standards)
http://www.snima.ma
Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization
SASMO
Syrian Arab Standards and Metrology Organization
http://www.sasmo.net
Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Sultanate of Oman
Mocioman
Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Oman
http://www.mocioman.gov.om
standardization processes
At the national level, standardization work is carried out by standardization committees supported by groups of experts. These committees are made up of qualified representatives from industry, research institutes, government authority, consumer associations and professional organizations.
At the regional and international levels, technical committees under the secretariat of the national standardization organizations undertake the work. The technical committees are formed by the technical management offices of the concerned regional or international organization. All national members have the right to be represented at the level of a regional or international committee concerned with a particular topic.
Standardization and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
In the light of the final negotiations of the Uruguay session of the “GATT” organization, the World Trade Organization (WTO) emerged on January 1, 1995. The organization includes 145 members (central governments) in January 2002. The Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) is one of the legal texts in a series of 29 WTO agreements that require members to ensure that technical regulations, voluntary standards and conformity assessment procedures do not pose unnecessary obstacles to trade. And Annex No. 3 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade of the World Trade Organization is considered a code of practice for the formulation, approval and implementation of the standard. By accepting the TBT Agreement, WTO members agree to ensure that the standardization bodies of central governments agree to and follow codes of practice and to take all reasonable measures to ensure that the standardizing bodies of local governments and non-governmental organizations will endeavor in the same direction. So the Code of Practice is open to acceptance by all of these organizations.
The TBT Agreement stresses the importance of the role of international systems of standardization and conformity assessment in enhancing production cycle efficiency and facilitating global trade. According to the rules of practice, in the event that international standards exist or if the latter are under final formulation, organizations concerned with standards activities must use international standards or their important elements as bases for drafting new standards, in order to establish a kind of harmony in the field of standards. And cheer
The rules of practice for all concerned organizations to actively participate, according to their resources, in the formulation of international standards within the framework of the concerned international organizations.
To ensure the greatest degree of transparency, the Code of Practice requires organizations concerned with standards and whose texts have agreed to communicate the content of their approval to the information center of the ISO / IEC organizations located in the Central Secretariat of the ISO in Geneva, directly or through the concerned national / international member of the ISONET information network. To contact all members of the ISONET information network, addresses can be obtained through the ISONET directory. Organizations active in the field of standardization must publish their work programs and report their content to the IEC/ISO Information Center at least once every 6 months. There are also other important texts related to drafting standards and approving them before implementing them.
The WTO TBT Code of Practice Guide gives a list of organizations working in the field of standardization that have notified their agreement to the WTO TBT Code of Practice and Implementation. The directory also contains the addresses of the concerned institutions, as well as a set of information on the possibility of obtaining their work programmes. The guide is published annually.
