World Standards Day

What Is World Standards Day?

October 14th is "World Standards Day." On October 14, 1946, delegates from 25 countries met in London and decided to create an international organization to promote standardization, and ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) was founded the following year. The day was established by ISO and the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) to thank and honor the experts who develop international standards.

The Work of Aligning the World's "Rulers"

We can use the same products and services across borders because shapes, sizes, performance, and other criteria are aligned internationally.

• Date origin:October 14, 1946, when the creation of an international standards body was agreed in London
• Established by:ISO and the IEC
• Related bodies:standards organizations such as the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) also take part
• Purpose:to thank and honor the people who develop global standards

International Standards Are All Around Us

For example, credit cards and bank cards work in machines in any country because card sizes are set by an international standard. And the "emergency exit" pictogram of a green running figure was designed in Japan and is now used worldwide as an international standard. Japan also has JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) for industrial products, which are coordinated with international standards.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Check that the cards in your wallet are all the same size
• Look for globally shared symbols around your office, such as emergency exit signs
• Review the rules and standard procedures you use at work
• Look up companies and products certified to ISO standards

Thanks to Those Who Make Things "Just Work"

We can use the same things safely anywhere in the world thanks to people who set standards behind the scenes. October 14th is a day to notice the "standards" all around us.