Wheels of normality E-Book

• Herausgeber: Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ Libro
• Kategorie: Fachliteratur
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 352

Beschreibung

Norms and standards make it easier for companies and other organisations to reliably meet high expectations. They thus contribute to our trust in a normality that is characterised by quality, safety and comfort - and is therefore by no means "normal". As necessary and effective as norms and standards are for a society based on the division of labour and complexity, the public awareness of them is low. That is why this non-fiction book provides for the first time an overview of norms and standards systems in Switzerland. From a historical and a future-oriented perspective, the book takes up the following questions: Why and how have norms and standards become so important in recent decades? How exactly do they create their economic and social benefits? To what extent can they hinder or promote innovation and transformation - and what potential does this offer for sustainable development? Journalists, academics and other experts provide answers based on fundamental articles and case studies from companies and other organisations.

Leseprobe

WHEELSOFNORMALITY

Building trust through standards

Published by Alex Gertschen

Bibliographic information of the German National Library:

The German National Library lists this publication in the German National Bibliography; detailed bibliographic data are available on the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.

The text of the e-book follows the printed 1st edition 2023 (ISBN 978-3-907396-28-5).

© 2023 Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS), Zollikofen and NZZ Libro, Schwabe Verlagsgruppe AG, Basel

Translation: Apostroph Group, Bern

Cover: Grafik Weiss GmbH, Freiburg i. Br.

Design, typesetting: Claudia Wild, Constance

Data conversion: Bookwire, Frankfurt a. M.

This work is protected by copyright. The rights conferred thereby, in particular those of translation, reprint, lecture, extraction of illustrations and tables, radio transmission, microfilming or reproduction by other means and storage in data processing systems, are reserved, even if only excerpts are used. Reproduction of this work or parts thereof, even in individual cases, shall only be permitted within the limits of the statutory provisions of the Copyright Act as amended. It is generally subject to remuneration. Infringements are subject to the penal provisions of copyright law.

ISBN Print edition 978-3-907396-28-5

The e-book is available in the following editions:

ISBN E-Book German 978-3-907396-29-2

ISBN E-Book English 978-3-907396-60-5

ISBN E-Book French 978-3-907396-61-2

ISBN E-Book Italian 978-3-907396-62-9

www.sqs.ch

www.nzz-libro.ch

NZZ Libro is an imprint of Schwabe Verlagsgruppe AG.

Table of contents

Editorial

Norm and normality: an introduction

Chapter 1 Basics:Order in a complex and dynamic society

1 The international standards system: actors, processes and the role of Switzerland

2 An overview of terms, definitions, types

3 Certification and accreditation: a system for assessing users and auditors

4 Standards in the context of historical change: from separate existence to coexistence on the streets of Swiss cities and agglomerations

5 Comparing standards with other regulatory systems: the example of the EFQM maturity model

6 ISO 9001: the Swiss Army knife of quality management

7 The complex interplay of standardisation and innovation: how stability and change are linked

Chapter 2 Case studies:How standards improve organisations and shape our everyday lives

8 Part-time in the top team: how standards facilitate cooperation between vocational schools and militia players in the education system

9 One of the most prestigious hotels is striving to become even better: the balancing act of the Dolder Grand in Zurich between standardised quality and individual guest needs

10 “Don’t shave your legs beforehand”: The safe treatment pathway at Hirslanden clinics is standardised and increasingly automated

11 Construction is never finished: Implenia’s support for future condominium owners shows how management system standards can improve services

12 A leisurely excursion into a harsh environment: The Jungfrau Railways have been transporting passengers up to the high mountains since 1912, leaving nothing to chance

13 Safety and health come first: how the construction company Lazzarini protects its employees in their day-to-day work

14 It’s not enough to have noble intentions: the ORS Group has set up a quality management system for the care of refugees

15 Culture in a bottle: standards, trust and the many other ingredients of the Rivella recipe

16 From Interlaken to Hamburg: how safe and comfortable train travel 'is becoming the norm

17 Standards as keys and bolts: openness and cohesion within the SFS Group

18 What’s normal? The Paraplegic Foundation adopts a critical and pragmatic approach to standards

Chapter 3 Sustainable development:the significance and potential of standards

19 Transnational governance for sustainable development: order for the Anthropocene

20 Standards for corporate sustainability: emergence, analysis and a solution

21 Standardisation for transformative innovation? Opportunities and risks based on the ISO 30500 case study for non-sewered sanitation systems

22 On the role of the state: “We can learn a lot from how quality requirements have been enforced in business.”

List of authors

Epilogue and thanks

Editorial

Dear reader,

Standards influence the way we produce goods and services – and consequently our consumption. They promote quality, safety, comfort and reliability, facilitate cooperation and thus contribute to creating a climate of trust in our society.

The system of standards in Switzerland consists of a large number of actors. First of all, there are the developers of standards, the most important being the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The Swiss Association for Standardization represents Switzerland in ISO and generally acts as the interface between the national and international standards systems. Private certification companies monitor the users of standards and are themselves monitored by the Swiss Accreditation Service. This system represents for local companies an infrastructure that enables them to constantly develop, compete in the global economy and thus to contribute to our prosperity.

The practical importance of the standards system contrasts with its low profile. The general public has little knowledge or understanding of it, which is not surprising given its complexity. This book aims to remedy this situation by explaining the historical development and current functioning of the standards system and by showing how standards (can) contribute to the sustainable transformation of our society.

The Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS) is a key player in the standards system in Switzerland. Founded in 1983 by trade associations and representatives of the Swiss federal government, it is the world’s second largest certification body for management systems, and its mission is to promote the quality, development and international networking of local companies. It has made a major contribution to the development of an international system that uses standards and certifications to create a common “language”, reduce technical barriers to trade and generally reduce transaction costs. It still sees itself today as a company serving the Swiss economy and society. Its more than 9,000 clients include companies, public authorities, associations and other organisations, global corporations as well as micro-enterprises with just a few employees.

At SQS, we assess, audit and certify organisations in accordance with management systems and a large number of other standards. The benefits of these services are felt both inside and outside the organisations. On the one hand, our customers are constantly developing and improving in dialogue with us. On the other hand, we provide certainty that an organisation has reached a certain level of maturity with respect to a standard, or that it meets the requirements of a given standard. In this way, we help our clients to orient themselves, develop, strengthen their credibility and gain the trust of those around them – all of which has a positive impact on society in general.

Our approach is systemic, comprehensive and focused on continuous improvement. In our assessments and audits, we always look at the bigger picture. This is also how we view our own work and function. For our 40th anniversary, we have therefore chosen not to publish a chronicle of the SQS, but a book which indirectly presents the value of the SQS in the context of the global standards system through a variety of fundamental articles and case studies. We combine this with the intention to continue to support and shape this system and to make it workable for sustainable development.

Looking at the bigger picture should not make us lose sight of the individual. Standards and systems are not an end in themselves but are tools for better coexistence. We therefore dedicate this book to all those who, through their commitment to SQS, are helping to keep the “wheels of normality” turning in Switzerland and create trust.

Andrea Grisard, President

Felix Müller, CEO

Norm and normality: an introduction

Standards help companies and other organisations to reliably meet high expectations. In this way, they help to create a normality in Switzerland that is anything but normal. At the same time, they should not merely preserve the status quo: Standards should serve as tools for the sustainable transformation of our society.

By Alex Gertschen

Imagine driving a car and applying the brakes – and the car brakes. And what’s more: It brakes smoothly and in an energy-efficient manner.

Imagine taking the train and arriving at your destination. And what’s more: You caught your connecting train en route and continued your journey safely and comfortably. Perhaps all the way up to the high mountains.

Imagine taking a training course – and learning something useful. And what’s more: you acquire applied and abstract knowledge that opens up a wide range of career opportunities.

Imagine having surgery – and recovering. Or you never fully recover, but you get the support you need to get back to a life worth living.

Imagine taking a sip out of the bottle – and the sweet drink tastes just as delicious as you expected. And what’s more: It tastes just like millions of other consumers expected and experienced before you.

Imagine you are making a “Swiss made” product – and the whole world is asking for it. And what’s more: The product is in demand, although it is much more expensive than (supposedly) comparable products.

Are any these situations and scenarios surprising to you? Of course not! They all seem quite natural to the Swiss. But this normality of ours is far from normal in the sense that it is only possible under certain conditions. The examples mentioned refer to the companies and other organisations portrayed in this book which work day after day to ensure that our high expectations in terms of quality, safety, comfort, prosperity and life prospects are met.

While our normality is reliably performed on the stage of everyday life, there is an international system of standards acting behind the scenes to run and ensure the “show”. This system provides guidance to organisations by identifying what is required as “state of the art”; it provides tools to meet these requirements; and it includes verification and certification mechanisms that ensure credibility and trust. In which areas of economic life do standards exist? How and by whom are they designed? How and why are they applied so effectively? On the basis of these key questions, this book presents the central rules of the system as the wheels of our normality.

There is one more scenario that we still need to address. Imagine that we all lead a normal life – and are destroying its natural basis in the process. But that’s not all: we know that we need to change the way we produce and consume to maintain the earth’s healthy balance, but nothing changes. The book also addresses this everyday normality and asks the question: What kind of standards can contribute to the sustainable transformation of our society?

Standards as a condition and result of human coexistence

Standards describe normality as a rule and regularity. They make statements about what situations and actions are likely to occur. In addition, they stabilise and reproduce normality by prescribing how we should behave, what we should do. In practical terms: standards store empirical knowledge. They indicate which practices, procedures or techniques have proven effective in specific situations for specific purposes. In the form of terminological definitions or physical units of measurement, standards, in turn, provide a language for naming rules and regularities in terms that are accessible to everyone.

Although the two terms (“Norm” and “Standard”) are almost synonymous in German, there are differences. “Norms” are developed with the involvement of as many interested parties as possible. This explains their quasi-public nature and broad acceptance. “Standards”, on the other hand, are more likely to be set and enforced by one or a few powerful players in the market. This is why a distinction is made in English between “public standards” and other standards. Because of their origin, “Norms” often have a moral quality in German. Meeting your requirements is “the right thing to do”. Anyone who disregards them must be able to justify themselves. “Standards” do not have this quality.

As standards make situations or actions predictable and legitimate, our coexistence becomes easier and more enjoyable. We can anticipate a specific situation, without having to deal with a thousand possible scenarios. Trust in normality means that we do not see an uncertain future as a danger. It is not impossible, but unlikely, that my stay in hospital will not result in recovery; that I will have an accident because the brakes failed; that I will acquire skills during my apprenticeship that will not allow me to work; or that drinking from a bottle will result in food poisoning. Yes, the train may be a few minutes late. The fact that this is already considered a major deviation from the norm in Switzerland also says a lot about our normality.

Norms shape our perception. This is why we usually only notice them when we move outside of our normality: for example, in some English-speaking countries, which use feet and inches to calculate rather than using the metric system; or in countries with a different conception of time, where we arrive “on time” for an appointment while everyone else is seemingly eternally “late”. Norms change across societies, generations, social milieus, families and organisations. They depend on groups and groups depend on them. Only when people agree on certain norms and ideas of what is expected and accepted do they become a collective. In fact, norms and standards in their most general form – as rules of coexistence – emerged in early human societies which began to divide the tasks of daily life by creating and coordinating social roles associated with specific tasks and skills.

Thematic focus and structure of the book

This book focuses on the formalised standards that shape the way companies and other organisations operate, develop and cooperate with each other, and thus meet our high demands as citizens and consumers. They are part of the Swiss normative framework, which comprises some 27,000 standards and is in turn part of a European and global system. These rules include, in particular, the standards of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as well as industry-specific standards such as those of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (construction) or HotellerieSuisse (hotel classification).

Informal social norms, on the other hand, are only considered insofar as they influence our preferences and demands as citizens and consumers. The rules defined and enforced by the state are addressed exclusively in their interaction with “public” standards and “private standards”. The latter, unlike laws or regulations, are developed by private actors, hence they are formally non-binding character. Ideally, public rules (“hard law”) and private rules (“soft law”) complement and support each other (see diagram below).

This focus can be explained as follows. The international system of standards has developed considerably since the 1980s – for reasons like those that led to the creation of the first standards. Globalisation required new rules to be defined for the division of labour and coordination between a large number of market players who knew little or nothing about each other, required a common understanding of what could be expected of each other and the verification and proof mechanisms to enforce these requirements. This was the only way to build trust, which is as essential as the air we breathe, in a complex and increasingly differentiated economy. This system now affects virtually all countries and all areas of our daily lives, but its practical relevance contrasts with its low profile, with the fact that the general public has little awareness of it.

Recognised standards are developed in a participatory and transparent manner and are freely applicable. Therefore, they are more accessible and binding than other private rules. (Source: SNV)

Another reason to focus on these standards is their potential for sustainable transformation. One of their challenges is that it must take place in a global economy without a world state and under considerable time pressure. There is no state actor capable of setting and enforcing universally binding rules. And we have relatively little time to come up with locally adapted and globally effective solutions to avoid overloading planetary resources and sinks, thus maintaining the balance of the Earth system. Private rules that are developed in a participatory, practical and impact-oriented manner are of particular importance in this context.

Finally, the publisher of this book, the Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS), also influences the thematic focus. Founded in 1983 as the world’s second largest certification body for quality management, it was both the “child” and the driving force behind the international standards system. It is still the leading provider of demanding certifications in Switzerland today. It is also involved in developing, applying and reviewing standards that help companies and other organisations achieve sustainable transformation.

The structure of the book reflects the reasons behind its thematic focus. The first chapter deals with the basics: the historical development and current functioning of the international standards system; the difference between various types of standards, such as the maturity model of the European Foundation for Quality Management; and the actors and path dependents that influence the development and evolution of standards. These articles have been written by experts from academia and in the field. The second chapter describes, with the help of eleven case studies from SQS clients, how companies and other organisations assert themselves on the market and constantly evolve with the application and management of standards. Most of these texts were written by journalists. The contributions in the third chapter, which deals with the question of which standards are needed for a sustainable transformation of our society, were written by academics.

Six interpretations of the relevance and potential of standards

The central message of the book is contained in the title: Standards help companies and other organisations to reliably meet high expectations. In this way, they help to give us confidence in an extraordinary normality. Based on the various contributions, six further interpretations can be drawn from this basic message.

Standards are crucial to Switzerland’s prosperity

. On the one hand, they enable or facilitate the presence of local companies on or in international markets and value chains. On the other hand, they are instruments that contribute to the quality, functionality, safety and reliability of “Swiss made” goods and services – and thus to a globally, solvent demand. The fundamental article “The complex interplay of standardisation and innovation” (

chapter 1

) and the SFS Group case study (

chapter 2

) show that standards can contribute themselves to innovations that are so important for Switzerland.

S

tandards are fundamentally valuable, particularly for an open SME economy

. In the context of the globalised division of labour and specialisation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face particular challenges. They have to face complex demands from customers, numerous countries and diverse stakeholders. Management system standards help to reduce this complexity to a manageable level. In addition, larger markets create pressure towards larger companies. By facilitating cooperation between market players, standards reduce the pressure for concentration and organisational integration. However, they can also have the opposite effect and drive SMEs out of the market: this is the case if they have not been developed in a sufficiently participatory manner and overburden SMEs, but are nevertheless required by suppliers, for example in public tenders or by large private clients.

S

tandards support the Swiss militia system

. One of the characteristics of the Swiss militia system is the simplicity of cooperation in small-scale and often poorly funded structures. The basic idea is that citizens who are able to do so can and should take on public offices and tasks on a part-time or voluntary basis. This requires a considerable coordination effort. The examples of the Swiss Association of Road and Transport Experts (

chapter 1

), the Aarau Vocational School and the Interlaken Education Centre (

chapter 2

) show that standards are tools that can reduce this workload and thus support the militia system.

Trust is good, audits are better

. The purpose of certification is to build trust between market players through checks and credible evidence. Certificates are often a prerequisite for companies to be even considered suppliers. Virtually all the case studies point to another, often more important, benefit of certification: the audits serve both as a check and a dialogue, in which the auditors contribute the experience and knowledge gained from hundreds, or even thousands, of visits to organisations. The audited companies use this external perspective to assess the current position and to continuously develop the organisation.

The state plays a central role in the effectiveness of private rules

. The effectiveness of the international standards system depends not least on its ability to establish credibility and trust. The article on certification and accreditation (

chapter 1

) shows that the state plays an important role in this respect by, in turn, auditing the private auditors of the users of standards, for example certification bodies such as SQS. In the case of Switzerland, this is carried out by the accreditation service SAS, which is affiliated with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. The interview on the interactions between hard law and soft law and the article on standards for corporate sustainability (

chapter 3

) also emphasise that the state must support standards with targeted incentives if they are to have the necessary impact for sustainable transformation.

Standards can hinder and bring about change

. Change comes from the development and widespread use of new solutions. Standardisation is commonly known for promoting the widespread use of a given solution as the “state of the art”. Several fundamental articles (

chapters 1

and

3

) show that it can also contribute to innovation by steering the competition regarding new solutions, moving away from standardised issues towards those for which many approaches are still accepted. The crucial question is, of course, what should (not) be standardised so that we can develop and apply the most effective solutions for sustainable transformation as quickly as possible?

Introductory bibliography

Assmann, Heinz-Dieter; Baasner, Frank; Wertheimer, Jürgen (ed.):

Normen, Standards, Werte – was die Welt zusammenhält

, Baden-Baden 2012.

Baberowski, Jörg (ed.):

Was ist Vertrauen? Ein interdisziplinäres Gespräch

. Frankfurt am Main 2014.

Berghoff, Hartmut:

Die Zähmung des entfesselten Prometheus? Die Generierung von Vertrauenenskapital und die Konstruktion des Markt im Industrialisierungs- und Globalisierungsprozess

, in: ders./Jakob Vogel (ed.):

Wirtschaftsgeschichte als Kulturgeschichte. Dimensionen eines Perspektivenwechsels

. Frankfurt am Main/New York 2004, pp. 143–168.

Busch, Lawrence:

Standards. Recipes for Reality

, Cambridge/MA 2011.

Forst, Rainer; Günther, Klaus (ed.):

Die Herausbildung normativer Ordnungen. Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven

. Frankfurt am Main 2011.

Frevert, Ute:

Vertrauensfragen. Eine Obsession der Moderne

. Munich 2013.

Loconto, Allison; Stone, John V.; Busch, Lawrence:

Tripartite Standards Regime

, in:

The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Globalization

, Chichester 2012.

Yates, JoAnne; Murphy, Craig N. (ed.):

Standards and the Global Economy, Business History Review

, 96 (2022), 1.

Chapter 1 Basics:Order in a complex and dynamic society

2 An overview of terms, definitions, types

Compiled by Hubert Rizzi and Alex Gertschen

All standard numbers are preceded by an alphanumeric designation. This designation indicates where a standard originated and at what level it is recognised. A distinction is made between national, European and international standards. National standards regulate the Swiss domestic market, European standards provide access to the European single market and international standards access to the global market. The letters preceding the standard number (SN, EN or ISO) identify the market harmonised by this standard.

Designation

Description

Example

SN

Swiss standard, which is predominantly of national significance.

SN 10130 “Business letter”

EN or SN EN

European standard or Swiss edition of a European standard that has been adopted unchanged by all members of one of the European standards organisations CEN, CENELEC or ETSI.

SN EN 71-14 “Safety of toys – Part 14: Trampolines for domestic use”

ISO or SN EN ISO

International standard or Swiss edition of a European standard that is identical to an international standard and has been adopted unchanged by all members of one of the European standards organisations CEN, CENELEC or ETSI.

SN EN ISO 9001 “Quality management systems – Requirements”

The Swiss Association for Standardization distinguishes between seven different types of standards:

Standard type

Description

Examples

Basic standards

Standards which have a wide field of application or which contain general specifications for a specific field.

SN EN ISO 9001 on quality management systems

SN EN ISO 14001 on environmental management systems

SN EN ISO/IEC 27001 on Information security management systems

Terminology standards

Standards dealing with designations are usually accompanied by their definitions and sometimes by explanatory notes, illustrations, examples or the like.

SN EN ISO 4210-1 on safety requirements for bicycles

SN EN 1540 on the concept of “exposure” to chemical and biological agents at work

Test standards

Standards dealing with testing methods, supplemented on a case-by-case basis by other test-related specifications, such as sampling, the use of statistical methods or the sequence of individual tests.

SN EN 61000-4-2 on “Electromagnetic compatibility – Part 4-2: Testing and measurement techniques – Electrostatic discharge immunity test

SN EN 12697—34 on “Bituminous mixtures – Test methods – Part 34: Marshall test”, which is used to assess, among other things, the quality of the bituminous mix

SN EN 12797 on “Brazing – Destructive tests of brazed joints”

Product standards

Standards defining requirements that must be met by a product or group of products in order to ensure their fitness for purpose.

SN EN IEC 62680-1-4 on “Universal Serial Bus interfaces for data and power – Part 1-4: Common Components – USB Type-C(tm) Authentication Specification”

SN EN 16732 on “Slide fasteners (zips) – Specification”

Procedural standards

Standards that define requirements to be met by procedures to ensure fitness for purpose.

SN EN IEC 31010 on “Risk management – Risk assessment techniques”

SN EN 62308 on Equipment reliability – Reliability assessment methods

Service standards

Standards that define requirements that must be met by a service in order to ensure fitness for purpose.

SN EN 14873—2 “Furniture removal activities – Storage of furniture and personal effects for private individuals – Part 2: Provision of the service”

Interface standards

Standards that define requirements dealing with the compatibility of products or systems at connection points.

SN EN 50631—1 on “Household appliances network and grid connectivity – Part 1: General Requirements, Generic Data Modelling and Neutral Messages”

SN EN 60118—14 on “Hearing aids. Part 14: Specification of a digital interface”

Glossary

Accreditation: Accreditation means formal recognition by a specialised body. There is one such body per country. In Switzerland, this is the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS), which is part of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). By accrediting certification bodies such as SQS, it confirms that these bodies are competent and have all the organisational prerequisites to issue certifications in a specific area of standardisation. The SAS supervises certification bodies as well as testing laboratories, inspection bodies and other conformity assessment bodies in the accredited area of standardisation in accordance with national and international legislation (Accreditation and Designation Ordinance, AccDO and EC Regulation No. 765/2008) as well as the ISO 17000 series of standards.

Accreditation of a certification: The certification of an organisation, for example, according to an ISO standard, may be accredited or non-accredited. This means that the body issuing the certificate is accredited or not. As accreditation is an additional step in quality assurance, accredited certificates are mandatory in some contexts. Accreditation also increases the guarantee of international recognition and easier access to the global market for certified organisations. This strengthens the relationship of trust between business partners.

Assessment: Assessment is an evaluation, a value judgement about a fact, an object or a person. In contrast to auditing and certification according to standards, assessment is not a binary judgement (requirement met / not met), but rather a differentiated and often comparative assessment. An assessment with the help of maturity models such as the Circular Globe (see page 26) or EFQM (see the article “Comparing standards with other regulatory systems” in this chapter) analyses organisations according to the level they have reached in relation to the past and the objectives they have set themselves (“maturity levels”) and in relation to other organisations.

Audit: In an audit, conformity with a particular standard is assessed on the basis of specific criteria. This is done by objectively establishing and evaluating evidence in a methodical, independent and documented process. A distinction is made between a digitally conducted remote audit and an on-site audit. Remote audits have been permitted since 2011. In such audits, the external auditor assesses the situation and/ or conformity with the standards live or via camera. There is also an on-site audit, an optional assessment service. It is carried out in the same way as a random sample, provides initial findings about certification readiness and enables the organisation to close any gaps in the system before the formal procedure.

Auditor: The auditor is the person who carries out an audit. Internal auditors check compliance with the normative requirements within the organisation to be certified. In addition to the management representatives, they are often the contact persons for the certification body. External auditors carry out an audit at regular intervals on behalf of the certification body in order to grant or maintain certification.

Certificate: The certificate is a document that gives the certified organisation credibility vis-à-vis third parties and thus contributes to trust between the different actors. If the certificate is issued by an accredited body and bears the SAS accreditation mark, it has the status of a legal binding document under the Swiss Criminal Code.

Certification: Certification is the confirmation by a neutral and independent body that the requirements of standards or technical regulations are met. Certification is based on a conformity assessment, which may cover, for example, products, services, processes and management systems. “Certification” comes from Latin and means “to make something certain”.

Certification body: The certification body is an independent public or private body that carries out impartial audits. It is not authorised to provide consulting services and is responsible for the correctness of the certification process.

Scope: Scope is an important concept in the world of standardisation. It refers to the scope of a specific set of rules or of a certificate issued in accordance with that set of rules. The scope is defined, for example, in relation to a location, an activity, a product or a service. For example, a certificate is issued for Muster AG at its Bern branch on the normative basis of ISO 9001 (quality management system) relating to the development and production as well as the sale and maintenance of machines and digital controls.

Conformity: Conformity refers to the fulfilment of a requirement. Nonconformity means the opposite. SQS refers to this situation as a “nonconformity” and distinguishes between “minor and major nonconformity”. In the event of a major nonconformity