Product Code: ILSC2009_401

The Aims and Value of Standards
Authors:
Michael Barrett, Pro Laser Consultants; Abingdon Great Britain
Presented at ILSC 2009

Many say that Standards are written by Experts for Experts, others that standards stifle creativity but the production and use of standards play a large and important role in our lives for a wide range of products and services. The major aims of all standards are to give an improvement in the quality of products and services, the quality of the environment and our own personal health and safety, the efficient use of resources and to remove trade barriers between countries. Often standards provide the detail to national legislation but as many are internationally recognised, they offer support for legal and contractual agreements. The paper expands the aims and principles for development and reviews the development/publication/maintenance lifecycle in the production of standards within the framework of the International standards organisations.