Standards transform the world. And simplify it. Sound a bit boastful? The fact is, when things function, we just take it for granted. Perhaps you fixed yourself a coffee this morning, toasted a slice of bread or took the car to work? It’s more than likely the filter fitted your coffee machine and your pre-sliced bread the toaster – and that the accelerator was to the right of your brake pedal. Which is just the way it should be, you think. Yes: that’s the great thing about standards!
Do standards sound boring?
Some may consider standards a necessary evil. The word conjures images of rules and regulations. But if the fit of the shoes you are trying on seems unrelated to the size on the label, you’ll be irritated for sure. And if the products your company makes don’t fit in a container, although they usually do, you might get just a bit upset.
Standards make our lives so much simpler, we only notice their relevance when absent. Most would probably agree, whether it’s a matter of their morning coffee, of raising the quality of healthcare or of running a major multinational. It’s only when things don’t work that life becomes difficult or complicated. So – it’s certainly true that standards are necessary. But evil they are not.
Standards make it possible
SIS, the Swedish Standards Institute, exists for its members. Our members are the ones who must profit as far as possible, not we. This said, we must strive jointly to ensure that the world functions a little better, every day.
We therefore collaborate with companies, government agencies and local authorities, research scientists and professional organizations, in Sweden and the rest of the world, to establish standards that facilitate more rational routines, cost-efficient business flows and enhanced quality. In a globalized world, there is a clear need to achieve coordination across industries, cultures and national borders. This is what SIS does.
A global mission
Standards help make the world work. Which is why SIS is where the key decisions are made. As a member of CEN (European Committee for Standardization) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization), we make sure we keep an eye on Swedish interests. Together, we have established some 16 000 standards. Nowadays, virtually all new standards are international, to the benefit of the Swedish export market. These standards have produced benefits ranging from the lower corporate costs derived from simplified manufacturing processes to a reduction in the risk of accidents. Quite simply, life has become a bit better for many people!
Participate – and make a difference
If you want to effect change, you have to know a bit more and think one step further than others. This is why we offer the opportunity to become part of a process in which experts from all over the world get together and work jointly to develop the standards of the future. We offer the ideal chance to participate actively and exert influence, to develop your industry while simultaneously enhancing the expertise within your own organization. Welcome to the future!
More than just standards
Much of what SIS does is about standards. This has been true since the 1920s. But our main concern has been, and always will be, focusing on how these standards can best be utilized, to create value and generate results. Which is why we offer so much more than standards alone. As a customer, you can benefit from our manuals, training courses and web services, in the same way that members can share in our expertise and new network of contacts. At SIS, we’re creating the future – with your help.