KANBrief 4/09
The European and international standards organizations CEN, CENELEC,ISO and IEC provide a wealth of information on their websites. Join us for a brief virtual tour of the world of standardization.
Development of European standards
A period of 36 months is scheduled from submission of the application for a European standard to its publication. CEN‘s website provides the reader with a very detailed overview of the individual procedures leading to production of the fi nal document. A very helpful aspect is that many of the complex procedures are explained not only by descriptions, but also by means of fl ow charts.
CEN > Production processes > Index
CEN guidance documents supplement the formal standardization procedures with further information on a total of 48 standards-related topics (“New Approach“, “Mandates“, “A-deviation“, “Uncertainty of measurements“, etc.).
CEN > Supporting material > Guidance documents
Brief descriptions are provided of the many different persons and organizational bodies involved in standardization. Their functions, tasks, working methods, rights and duties are described (CEN Consultant, Administrative Board, TC Chairperson, Associate Members, etc.).
CEN > Organization > Profiles-Index
Committees and work programmes
Information on the structure, published standards and current projects can be called up for all Technical Committees and other CEN bodies.
CEN > Sectors > Technical committees and workshops
CENELEC provides two comprehensive documents containing information on Technical Committees, Working Groups, member organizations, and bodies and organizations associated with CENELEC.
CENELEC > Technical work > CENELEC directory
Further information (agenda, dates of meetings, etc.) can be called up by means of a search function.
CENELEC > Search > Technical bodies > Scope, Activities, Meetings
Searches are also possible for standards which are currently in progress, have recently appeared, or have been withdrawn.
CENELEC > Search > Standards
The tables at ISO and IEC provide an introductory overview of the Technical Committees responsible for international standardization activity. The information on the individual committees includes links to the standards published and to the current work programme.
ISO > Standards development > Technical committees > List of ISO technical committees
IEC > Standards development > NC and TC/SC information > Technical committees and subcommittees
Information indicating the ISO committees upon which a national standards institute is represented and in what function can be found in the section:
About ISO > ISO members
Readers interested in the calendars of the international standards committees will fi nd a complete breakdown of the meeting dates at ISO and IEC.
ISO > Standards development > Technical committees > Meeting calendar
IEC > For members and experts > Meetings
For anyone working in ISO committees (pdf) themselves, the “My ISO job“ brochure provides information on procedures, the types of document, the structure of committees, and similar information.
Michael Robert Sonja Miesner