公告&动态 第196页

Learning from the best: a new standard for education providers

Today’s knowledge economy requires diverse training and learning services beyond the formal, national education system. A new standard aims to not only help providers improve their service, but provide recognition and credibility on the international market.

ISO 29993 Learning services outside formal education – Service requirements is designed to improve transparency and credibility in the market by providing the minimum requirements for internationally agreed levels of quality learning services.

Daniel Graf, chair of ISO/TC 232, the ISO technical committee that developed the standard, whose secretariat is held by DIN, ISO’s member for Germany, said: “Not only will learning providers benefit through improving quality and providing an internationally recognized standard that harmonizes many local, private and national standards, learners themselves benefit through having clearer information about what they can expect.

“ISO 29993 recognizes the importance of learners being able to make informed choices, by requiring the provider to give clear information about what they can expect to learn, and who the provider is.”

Take me higher – a new standard for weather balloons just published

As worldwide research into weather patterns and natural disasters rises, so too does the use of meteorological balloons. Increasing global trade and demand for balloons that provide accurate data requires an international approach. A new ISO International Standard has just been published to take them to the next level.

Meteorological – or weather – balloons are designed to measure weather conditions by carrying atmospheric measurement instruments to higher altitudes, thus playing an important role in not just forecasting the weather, but predicting natural disasters and advancing scientific research in this area.

A new International Standard, ISO 17717 Meteorological balloon – Specification has just been published, outlining the minimum requirements for their production as well as test methods to ensure quality, reliability and durability.

Mr Deng Yizhi, project leader and member of ISO/TC 45/SC 4, the technical committee that developed the standard, whose secretariat is held by DSM, ISO’s member for Malaysia said: “Organizations involved in the production and distribution of weather balloons have, up until now, had to rely on company-developed standards and various types of national technical requirements to manage product quality, making it complicated to demonstrate quality levels when dealing with the international market.

“ISO 17717 will help to harmonize current standards in the area, as well as ensure overall quality, while providing a platform to enable more advanced technology to flourish.”

First UK plant certified by BSI to automotive quality management standard

BSI (British Standards Institution) is proud to announce that Magna International’s Stadco facility in Castle Bromwich is the first UK facility to be independently assessed by BSI and achieve certification to the automotive quality management system standard, IATF 16949:2016.

The new standard, which was published in October 2016, outlines the requirements for an effective Quality Management System (QMS). Adhering to this standard is mandatory for all Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and suppliers in the automotive industry globally. Organizations are required to transition to the new standard by 14 September 2018.

Robert Brown, Global Automotive Specialist at BSI said: “Magna should be very proud that they are the first plant in the UK to achieve the updated certification from BSI. Achieving this standard is critical for automotive companies to continue to do business, deliver quality products and continually improve.”

“We would encourage other BSI customers to make the transition as early as possible – BSI is ready with a fully resourced team of expertly trained auditors to help make the transition as smooth as possible.” 

IATF 16949 builds on the revised Quality Management Systems Standard ISO 9001. The new standard has been updated to include a high level structure featuring terms, definitions, headings and text common to all management system standards; this allows for easier integration when implementing multiple management systems. The new standard also encourages a risk-based approach to encourage preventative action and ensure continuous improvement.

“This achievement comes as a result of our internal management system and approach to quality,” said Chris Fisher Stadco Group Managing Director. “Our team is focused, and worked extremely hard to reach this certification. Ensuring quality in everything we do is a clear priority of our business and we are well on the way to having all of our UK sites successfully transitioned to the IATF standard.

“Exceeding customer satisfaction requirements and delivering high quality products are of the utmost importance to our world class manufacturing efforts,” said Mike Sinnaeve, Magna’s Global Vice President of Operational Improvement and Quality. “It is a great honour to be the first facility in the United Kingdom to be certified as it is a true testament to their commitment to quality and sets the benchmark.”

Tracking the Sustainability of Manufacturing Processes

ASTM International’s committee on sustainability (E60) has developed a new guide that will help companies set reasonable, realistic operational objectives for reducing the environmental impact of their own manufacturing processes.

The standard (soon to be published as E3096, Guide for the Definition, Selection, and Organization of Key Performance Indicators for Environmental Aspects of Manufacturing Processes) uses key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure how well an objective for self-improvement is being met.

“Using this guide, industrial users will develop sets of KPIs to assess the sustainability performance of their manufacturing processes,” says ASTM International member Shaw C. Feng of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland. According to Feng, the standard helps users identify what to measure to determine whether their sustainability goals are being met. Good measurements will be specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant, and time-bound, among others.

Manufacturers can use the guide to help set measurement priorities for tracking and reducing environmental impacts, such as harmful substances, that can be generated by the manufacturing process.

Industry professionals are invited to participate in pilot implementations of the guide to help improve future versions based on experience.

New Australian publication to accelerate digital hospitals 

Today, Standards Australia published a world first digital hospitals handbook, an initiative led by the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) and the National Health CIO Forum (NHCIOF).

SA HB 163:2017, Digital Hospitals Handbook, focuses on delivering more efficient hospital services through the use of technology.

It is a people and outcomes focused document intended for use across a broad audience.

Digital health projects across the globe have faced challenges. Australian experts wanted a consolidated reference to guide health systems as they move to digital. The handbook aims to improve the outcomes of these types of projects by ensuring:

• Clear articulation of the underlying principles for a “digital hospital”

• Alignment with the design, construction and commissioning of healthcare facilities through a benefits estimation/realisation framework

• An ICT systems architecture that enables innovative healthcare services now and into the future

Dr Bronwyn Evans, CEO of Standards Australia and Chair of the Industry Growth Centre for Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals, recognised the significance of this publication for Australia.

“We need to apply a contemporary digital lens over the model of care and design of buildings and organisations. The Digital Hospitals Handbook does just that.

“The document effectively aligns with industry policy, addressing the importance of technology for the sector’s future. As the first of its kind in the world, it showcases Australia’s competitiveness and capacity for innovation,” said Dr Evans.

Standards Australia technical committee IT-039, which is responsible for the development of the Digital Hospitals Handbook, is constituted of a balanced representation of stakeholder interests.

The membership includes representatives from government, industry, academic and health organisations.

Chair of the technical committee IT-039, Dr Andrew P Howard, explained the background and impact of the handbook.

“Australian hospitals have been improving their digital maturity for decades. However, early adopters show some projects have cost more, taken longer and been less effective than was otherwise possible.

“SA HB 163 presents pragmatic solutions for stakeholders of all backgrounds. By focusing on people and outcomes our hope is it will be widely leveraged by private and public health systems as they plan their digital transitions,” said Dr Howard. 

New ISO standard on video fire detectors will help save lives

Early detection of fire and smoke are essential to save lives, property and the environment. Modern technology such as video fire detectors, especially in some high-risk places like tunnels, oil and gas environments, public buildings or storage areas, enable a fast response to a potential fire. A new ISO technical specification on video fire detectors helps ensure more efficient and reliable equipment.

According to the Center of Fire Statistics (CFS) of the International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF), among 31 countries representing 14 % of the world’s population, fire services reported 3.5 million fires, 18.5 thousand civilian fire deaths and 45.0 thousand civilian fire injuries in 2015.

Video detection technology detects, identifies and analyses smoke at the first sign of fire or flame. The equipment’s understanding of the behaviour and movement of smoke enables users, located on site or remotely, to raise the alert and take appropriate action early.

Keith Shinn, Chair of ISO subcommittee ISO/TC 21/SC 3 that developed the standard, says: “In large open compartments, it can remove the delay in smoke travelling to the detector and result in a quicker response by emergency services. It can also permit smoke detection in harsh environments where it may otherwise be impractical.”

ISO/TS 7240-29:2017, Fire detection and alarm systems – Part 29: Video fire detectors, specifies requirements, test methods and performance criteria for video fire detectors (VFD) operating in the visible spectrum, for use in fire detection and alarm systems installed in and around buildings.

Isaac Papier, Convenor of ISO subcommittee ISO/TC 21/SC 3, explains: “Industrial fire detection serves two vital functions. First in preventing loss of the facility, but actually, more importantly, in providing a fast response such that operation is not interrupted resulting in severe revenue loss. Today’s modern automated production facilities comprise of huge investments with revenue flows often exceeding millions of dollars per hour. Any downtime can very quickly amount to huge sums. Further, any shutdown can involve complex and lengthy start-up procedures that further exacerbate the loss. A video fire detector is an excellent tool to effectively monitor a large area in real time.”

Until now, there has been no comprehensive international specification for video fire detectors and ISO/TS 7240-29 provides the first platform for international acceptance of a uniform specification.

Shinn explains: “The community at large should be the greatest beneficiary of the release of this technical specification.

New handbook helps SMEs best manage water use

Clean water is vital to life and one of our most precious resources, yet around 40% of the world’s population doesn’t have enough. At the same time, we are our own worst enemy as over 80% of wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem neither treated nor reused.

The issue is widely recognized, which is why water features heavily in several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and governments and businesses are facing increasing pressure to limit their water use. In order to do this, however, they must first be able to measure it.

A new ISO handbook, ISO 14046 Environmental management- Water footprint – A practical guide for SMEs, developed in partnership with ITC, has just been published to help all kinds of organizations, in particular SMEs, better understand the standard and maximize the benefits that it offers.

Handbook co-author Sebastien Humbert said water footprinting is a relatively new type of assessment compared to others such as carbon footprinting and there are numerous methodologies with varying results.

“Having been developed with the involvement of thousands of contributors from around 60 countries and 20 non-governmental organizations, ISO 14046 provides international consensus on a common language for all interested parties, and provides a framework to measure the environmental impacts resulting from their water use.”

“This handbook helps organizations prepare for and undertake a water footprint assessment using ISO 14046, through practical guidance on not only the main clauses, but also those most open to interpretation.”

New handbook helps SMEs best manage water use

Clean water is vital to life and one of our most precious resources, yet around 40% of the world’s population doesn’t have enough. At the same time, we are our own worst enemy as over 80% of wastewater generated by society flows back into the ecosystem neither treated nor reused.

The issue is widely recognized, which is why water features heavily in several of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and governments and businesses are facing increasing pressure to limit their water use. In order to do this, however, they must first be able to measure it.

A new ISO handbook, ISO 14046 Environmental management- Water footprint – A practical guide for SMEs, developed in partnership with ITC, has just been published to help all kinds of organizations, in particular SMEs, better understand the standard and maximize the benefits that it offers.

Handbook co-author Sebastien Humbert said water footprinting is a relatively new type of assessment compared to others such as carbon footprinting and there are numerous methodologies with varying results.

“Having been developed with the involvement of thousands of contributors from around 60 countries and 20 non-governmental organizations, ISO 14046 provides international consensus on a common language for all interested parties, and provides a framework to measure the environmental impacts resulting from their water use.”

“This handbook helps organizations prepare for and undertake a water footprint assessment using ISO 14046, through practical guidance on not only the main clauses, but also those most open to interpretation.”

ISO 14046 Environmental management – Water footprint. A practical guide for SMEs is available from your national ISO member and the ISO Store.

Ground-breaking British Standard for the ‘circular economy’ launched

BSI, the business standards company, has launched a new standard for the ‘circular economy’, BS 8001:2017: Framework for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations – guide.

The ‘circular economy’ is a concept which challenges organizations to re-think how their resources are managed to create financial, environmental and social benefits. BS 8001 was developed to meet these mutually beneficial goals, by providing guiding principles for organizations and individuals to consider and implement more sustainable practices. It is the first standard of its kind, both in the UK and globally.

One of the key aims of the circular economy is to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, in keeping with the mantra of the circular economy as being restorative and regenerative by design. BS 8001 outlines what the circular economy is and how an organization can transition from a linear to a circular, and more sustainable, day-to-day operation.

Practical implementation of the six principles of the circular economy – innovation; stewardship; collaboration; value optimizations; transparency; and “systems thinking” – is the bedrock of the standard, and step-by-step guidance on how an organization can navigate through the different stages of implementation is provided. “Systems thinking” is defined in the standard as an understanding of how organizations, individual decisions and activities interact within the wider systems they are part of.

Identifying the role of the circular economy in a particular organization, and how an organization can maximize the potential of this information, is one of the first steps outlined in BS 8001. Importantly, the standard is not intended to be prescriptive or certifiable; it is intended to be used flexibly by those which adopt it – irrespective of the size, sector, type or location of the organization. It is suitable for organizations at a nascent or more advanced stage of transition on implementing the principles of the circular economy.

The move to a ‘circular economy’ is a significant opportunity for businesses and organizations; by contributing to a resource efficient and low-carbon economy, costs and supply chain risks are reduced. Further benefits for businesses which choose to implement BS 8001 include improved resilience, new revenue streams, and enhanced corporate sustainability credentials.

Extensive input from UK businesses into the development of the standard has ensured the standard is useable in real-world scenarios, and that the language used in the document is not overly technical and accessible to those without prior knowledge of the circular economy.

David Fatscher, Head of Sustainability at BSI, said: “BS 8001 is a world first and further evidence that BSI, as the UK national standards body, is demonstrating leadership in developing knowledge solutions which address global challenges.

“Resource productivity is at the heart of the government’s new Industrial Strategy and demonstrates how standards can be considered business improvement tools which help organizations unlock the untapped potential of sustainable growth. BS 8001 was developed to enable organizations to take practical actions to realize the economic and social benefits of the circular economy.”

To support the framework, BS 8001 provides guidance around the specific issues surrounding the transition to a circular model – namely measurements, liability and insurance, logistical concerns, and materials. Guidance is also provided on specific associated business models, including leasing, the sharing economy, and remanufacturing.

Francois Souchet, Project Manager for Insight and Analysis at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, added: “This standard provides a valuable introduction to the practical action organizations can take to accelerate their transition to a circular economy.”

The following organizations and individuals were involved in the creation of BS 8001: BEIS – Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Hampshire County Council; University of Sheffield; Marks & Spencer plc, Rolls Royce; Tata Steel, Institute for Sustainability; Amec Foster Wheeler; University College London; Green Alliance; Loughborough University; Granta Design Limited; Keep Britain Tidy; Timber Trade Federation; Waste and Resources Action Programme; Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse; Institution of Mechanical Engineers; Innovate UK; Greater London Authority; British Coatings Federation Ltd; British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd; Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment; Centre for Sustainable Design; UK Sustainability Network for Standardization; Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Zero Waste Scotland; Eden21; Shoosmiths LLP, International Lead Association; Welsh Government; University of Surrey; Resource Association; British Glass Manufacturers Confederation; National Physical Laboratory; Scottish Government; London Waste & Recycling Board; Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; Construction Products Association; Bioregional; Confederation of Paper Industries Ltd; BAM Construct UK.