2016

annual report

a world
NAVIGATING

in transition
ANNUAL REPORT 2016

What’s inside ?

Navigating a world in transition But first... the basics Highlights from 2016 Impact of our work ISO in figures 2016
Comment by Kevin McKinley, An introduction How ISO contributed on the world Facts, figures
Acting ISO Secretary-General, and to the ISO system. to navigating a world Quotes and numbers and finances.

2 4 12 28 34
Dr Zhang Xiaogang, ISO President. in transition. showing the influence
of standards.

p. p. p. p. p.
NAVIGATING A WORLD IN TRANSITION

Loved by some, hated by others, 2016 was “ One of our

an eventful year.
Our world is in transition. We are being pulled in priorities this year
different directions by the forces of globalization, climate
change and the unprecedented speed of technological has been helping
breakthroughs. We stand on the brink of a fourth industrial
revolution driven by increased automation, advanced
technologies and robotics.
our members.”
Kevin McKinley These developments carry enormous potential for positive Dr Zhang Xiaogang
Acting ISO Secretary-General transformation, but our success will depend on our ability ISO President

to seize and navigate the waves of change. We can only

get there if we work together. Global supply chains, ISO embraced 2016 with a fresh another important goal, because we
interoperability, safety and traceability are just some of start – a new strategy for the next can only solve today’s global challenges
the issues that need concerted international effort. five years. through a collaborative effort. But
For me, a defining highlight of the year was the Looking back, we have taken strides in developing standards is not enough.
international community’s call to action on the new the right direction, but there is still a long People need to be aware that they exist
Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the road ahead to 2020. The waves of change and are there to help them. Engaging with
United Nations in September 2015. These objectives offer the world is experiencing today have had influencers is key, as is reaching out to
an ideal platform that we can all aspire to, a common an impact on our organization. A service the general public. I have worked hard as
vision that can guide our journey to a more sustainable economy, a global supply chain, new ISO President to communicate about the
world. ISO is in a unique position to help make real technologies and a stronger impetus to work we do, because I believe it’s essential
tangible progress on these goals. mitigate climate change have increased the to the success of our organization.
Our mission is to channel international knowledge and demand for standards. This means more work 2016 was not just a time to reflect on
expertise to develop consensus-based solutions to global in the shape of new committees and new how we can help the world transition, but
challenges. ISO standards can be used to ensure food projects. We must keep up the momentum how we too must adapt to meet our own
security for a growing population, build more accessible and continue to improve our processes so challenges. Great things happen when
and smarter communities, protect our privacy, increase that we can deliver timely solutions. we work together and get the world to
cyber security and promote economic development. The One of our priorities this year has been agree. We must continue to strengthen
ISO system and its network of 163 national standards helping our members – which are a our engagement, our cooperation and
bodies and committed, passionate experts are a perfect vital part of the ISO system – to better our outreach within the ISO family and
example of what can be achieved by working together. engage and participate in standards beyond, to help the world navigate the
More than ever, we need to make sure the ISO family is development. Strengthening partnerships waves of change successfully towards a
at its strongest to support this vision. with international organizations has been future we want.

2 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 3

 Who makes up
BUT FIRST... THE BASICS

Who are we ? the ISO

system ?
ISO members
• Represent ISO in their country
• Propose new standards
• Enable national experts and
We are ISO, the We are a We are Our job is to
stakeholders to participate
International member-based coordinated by a make International
and have a say in standards
Organization for not-for-profit, Central Secretariat Standards.
development
Standardization. non-governmental (ISO/CS)
• Help manage technical
organization. in Geneva, Experts committees where the
Switzerland. Write the standards
• standards are written
• Are nominated by members • Approve standards by voting
but can also come from partner
organizations like the United Nations
and other key players

We are a We put together We provide a We chose “ ISO ”

ISO/CS
global network groups of experts neutral platform because it is
of national that represent for the experts to derived from • Provides a neutral platform for the experts to get together
standards bodies every sector get together and the Greek word and achieve consensus
with one member imaginable. achieve consensus. isos (equal), so • Facilitates participation in standardization
per country. that it’s the same • Coordinates the standards development process
in all languages. and makes standards available
• Increases awareness around International Standards and ISO
• Strengthens relationships with partners
4 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 5
BUT FIRST... THE BASICS
Who are PHILIPPINES (BPS) ; POLAND (PKN) ; PORTUGAL
(IPQ) ; QATAR (QS) ; ROMANIA (ASRO) ;

our members ?
ISO MEMBERS RUSSIAN FEDERATION (GOST R) ;
RWANDA (RSB) ; SAINT LUCIA (SLBS) ;
The national standards bodies that make up our membership bring SAUDI ARABIA (SASO) ; SENEGAL (ASN) ;
SERBIA (ISS) ; SINGAPORE (SPRING SG) ;
their country’s voice to the international standardization process. FULL MEMBERS SLOVAKIA (SOSMT) ; SLOVENIA (SIST) ; SOUTH
AFGHANISTAN (ANSA) ; ALGERIA (IANOR) ; AFRICA (SABS) ; SPAIN (AENOR) ; SRI LANKA (SLSI) ;
ISO standards are created by the people who will use and be impacted by them.
ARGENTINA (IRAM) ; ARMENIA (SARM) ; SUDAN (SSMO) ; SWEDEN (SIS) ; SWITZERLAND
It’s the members’ role to identify these people in their own country and make sure that AUSTRALIA (SA) ; AUSTRIA (ASI) ; AZERBAIJAN (SNV) ; TANZANIA, UNITED REPUBLIC OF (TBS) ;
their views are heard at the international decision-making table. Members also propose (AZSTAND) ; BAHRAIN (BSMD) ; BANGLADESH THAILAND (TISI) ; THE FORMER YUGOSLAV
new standards, help manage technical work, vote on upcoming standards, and distribute (BSTI) ; BARBADOS (BNSI) ; BELARUS (BELST) ; REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (ISRM) ; TRINIDAD
ISO standards within their country – they are vital to making the ISO system work. BELGIUM (NBN) ; BENIN (ABENOR) ; BOSNIA AND TOBAGO (TTBS) ; TUNISIA (INNORPI) ; TURKEY
AND HERZEGOVINA (BAS) ; BOTSWANA (BOBS) ; (TSE) ; UGANDA (UNBS) ; UKRAINE (DSTU) ; UNITED
BRAZIL (ABNT) ; BULGARIA (BDS) ; BURKINA ARAB EMIRATES (ESMA) ; UNITED KINGDOM OF
FASO (ABNORM) ; CAMEROON (ANOR) ; CANADA GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND (BSI) ;
(SCC) ; CHILE (INN) ; CHINA (SAC) ; COLOMBIA UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (ANSI) ; URUGUAY
(I CO N T EC)  ; CONGO, THE DEMOCRATIC (UNIT) ; UZBEKISTAN (UZSTANDARD) ; VIET NAM
REPUBLIC OF THE (OCC) ; COSTA RICA (INTECO) ; (STAMEQ) ; YEMEN (YSMO) ; ZIMBABWE (SAZ) 
CÔTE DʼIVOIRE (CODINORM) ; CROATIA (HZN) ; CORRESPONDENT MEMBERS
CUBA (NC) ; CYPRUS (CYS) ; CZECHIA (UNMZ) ;  ALBANIA (DPS) ; ANGOLA (IANORQ) ; BAHAMAS

163
DENMARK (DS) ; ECUADOR (INEN) ; EGYPT (BBSQ) ; BHUTAN (BSB) ; BOLIVIA, PLURINATIONAL
(EOS) ; EL SALVADOR (OSN) ; ESTONIA (EVS) ; STATE OF (IBNORCA) ; BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
ETHIOPIA (ESA) ; FIJI (DNTMS) ; FINLAND (SFS) ; (ABCI) ; BURUNDI (BBN) ; CAMBODIA (ISC) ;

members
FRANCE (AFNOR) ; GABON (AGANOR) ; GERMANY DOMINICA (DBOS) ; DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
(DIN) ; GHANA (GSA) ; GREECE (NQIS-ELOT) ; (INDOCAL) ; ERITREA (ESI) ; GAMBIA (TGSB) ;
GEORGIA (GEOSTM) ; GUATEMALA (COGUANOR) ;
HUNGARY (MSZT) ; ICELAND (IST) ; INDIA (BIS) ;

119 full members

GUYANA (GNBS) ; HAITI (BHN) ; HONDURAS (OHN) ;
INDONESIA (BSN) ; IRAN, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF
HONG KONG, CHINA (ITCHKSAR) ; KYRGYZSTAN
(ISIRI) ; IRAQ (COSQC) ; IRELAND (NSAI) ; ISRAEL (KYRGYZST) ; LESOTHO (LSQAS) ; MACAO, CHINA
40 correspondent (SII) ; ITALY (UNI) ; JAMAICA (BSJ) ; JAPAN (JISC) ; (CPTTM) ; MADAGASCAR (BNM) ; MAURITANIA

members
JORDAN (JSMO) ; KAZAKHSTAN (KAZMEMST) ; (DNPQ) ; MOLDOVA, THE REPUBLIC OF (ISM) ;
KENYA (KEBS) ; KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLEʼS MONTENEGRO (ISME) ; MOZAMBIQUE (INNOQ) ;

4 subscriber REPUBLIC OF (CSK) ; KOREA, REPUBLIC OF

(KATS) ; KUWAIT (KOWSMD) ; LATVIA (LVS) ;
MYANMAR (DRI) ; NICARAGUA (DNM) ; NIGER
(DNPQM) ; PALESTINE, STATE OF (PSI) ; PAPUA NEW

members LEBANON (LIBNOR) ; LIBYA (LNCSM) ; LITHUANIA

(LST) ; LUXEMBOURG (ILNAS) ; MALAWI (MBS) ;
GUINEA (NISIT) ; PARAGUAY (INTN) ; SAINT KITTS
AND NEVIS (SKNBS) ; SEYCHELLES (SBS) ; SIERRA
LEONE (SLSB) ; SURINAME (SSB) ; SWAZILAND
MALAYSIA (DSM) ; MALI (AMANORM) ; MALTA
(SWASA) ; TAJIKISTAN (TJKSTN) ; TURKMENISTAN
(MCCAA) ; MAURITIUS (MSB) ; MEXICO (DGN) ; (MSST) ; ZAMBIA (ZABS) 
Did you know ?
MONGOLIA (MASM) ; MOROCCO (IMANOR) ;
38 members provide administrative and NAMIBIA (NSI) ; NEPAL (NBSM) ; NETHERLANDS SUBSCRIBER MEMBERS
technical services for ISO committee (NEN) ; NEW ZEALAND (NZSO) ; NIGERIA (SON) ; ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA (ABBS) ; BELIZE (BZBS) ;
secretariats. These services involve a full-time NORWAY (SN) ; OMAN (DGSM) ; PAKISTAN LAO PEOPLEʼS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (DOSM) ;
staff equivalent to 500 persons ! (PSQCA) ;PANAMA (COPANIT) ; PERU (INACAL) ; SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES (SVGBS)

ISO annual report 2016 | 7

BUT FIRST... THE BASICS

ISO OFFICERS

Zhang Xiaogang John Walter Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha Olivier Peyrat Miguel Payró Kevin McKinley

Zhang Xiaogang ISO President for the 2018-2019 term, Olivier Peyrat Group, one of the world’s leading luxury
ISO President thus serving as President-elect in 2017. ISO Vice-President (finance) watch groups. There, he was instrumental
Dr Zhang Xiaogang started his term as Since 2009, John has been Chief Executive In 2014, Olivier Peyrat was reappointed in reorganizing the corporate structure and
President of ISO in 2015. He is currently Officer of the Standards Council of Canada. ISO Vice-President (finance) until the end of implemented the first consolidation and
Vice-Chairman of Ansteel Group Corporation, During his career, he has advocated for 2016. Director-General of AFNOR Group since international accounting standards.
which ranks amongst the worldʼs top the development and use of standards 2003, he started his professional career in 1984
500 corporations. During a career that spans in business, industry and government at in the Regional Administration of Industry and Kevin McKinley
Research of Ile de France before holding several Acting ISO Secretary-General
35 years, he has distinguished himself in national, regional and international levels.
various high-level leadership positions for management positions related to quality and Kevin McKinley was Deputy Secretary-General
Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha certification in public administration. of ISO from 2003 until taking up the post of
several related iron and steel corporations.
ISO Vice-President (technical management)
An active member of the iron and steel Acting Secretary-General in August 2015.
In 2014, Dr Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha was Miguel Payró Prior to this, he was Director at the Standards
industry, Dr Zhang holds a doctorate in metal ISO Treasurer
material and heat treatment. reappointed ISO Vice-President (technical Council of Canada, a Crown Corporation
In 2015, Miguel Payró was reappointed
management) until the end of 2016. She has responsible for Canada’s national standards
ISO Treasurer 1). Miguel is Chief Financial
John Walter been Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian system. Kevin has also held senior posts at the
Officer at GeNeuro SA, a Geneva-based
ISO Vice-President (policy) Standards Institute (ASI) and Austrian Canadian Standards Association, the country’s
biotechnology company. Previously, he was
Standards plus GmbH (a daughter company largest standards development organization,
John Walter was ISO Vice-President (policy) Chief Financial Officer at the Franck Muller
of ASI) since 1 February 2013. She was also and was involved in national standardization
from 2014 to 2016. At the September
responsible for several organizational and issues in business management and
2016 General Assembly, he was elected 1) Mr Payró resigned as ISO Treasurer with effect
business development projects. on 17 January 2017. worker safety.
8 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 9
BUT FIRST... THE BASICS
What is the focus
A FRESH START
of our new
strategy ?
In 2016, we launched
the new ISO Strategy,
which will lead the way
for the next five years.

The ISO Strategy provides

The ISO Strategy 2016-2020
guidance and strategic on
points towards six interlinked

ti
direction, helping us to

a
strategic directions :

ic
un
respond to a future where

m
constant change will require

Com
us to continually improve
the ISO system.

ners
New strategy

eholders and part

Engage
ISO standards
used
everywhere

ology
stak
“ A leader in its field and supported

chn
D -
qua evelop high ugh

f te
by a broad member base, ISO enjoys lit ro

eo
ISO y standards th hip

Us
’s glo s
bal member
a strong governance, code of ethics and
standards development process.”
People and ent
organization developm
ISO Strategy 2016-2020

10 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 11

 1 67
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

ISO’S CONTRIBUTION KEEPING UP WITH

TO NAVIGATING A WORLD INCREASING THE TECHNOLOGICAL
IN TRANSITION IN 2016 INTERNATIONAL REVOLUTION

If the world is to profit from COLLABORATION to innovate in a positive

AND REACH and progressive track
the changes brought by global
because the BUILDING A SMART
supply chains, rapid technological
world needs to AND SUSTAINABLE

2
developments and increasing
work together WORLD
interconnectivity, a few
for the generations
hard questions must first

5
of today and of the future
be addressed.

How can we mitigate the impacts

of our increasing consumption
of the Earth’s limited resources ?
How will we offer a good quality
IMPROVING
of life to a growing world
STANDARDS
population ?
DEVELOPMENT
How can we keep people safe LOOKING OUT
FOR OUR HEALTH because continuous
and protect their privacy ?

3 4
improvement starts
In the next section, we look at for quality, safety and
at home
what ISO has done to address harmony across borders
these issues among others. “ Standards
have become
STIMULATING the common
A SERVICE ECONOMY STRENGTHENING
to drive economic growth DEVELOPING COUNTRIES language of
the world.”
making sure no one
gets left behind

President Xi Jinping of China

12 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 13

 1
• ISO worked to identify and emphasize
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016
the role of standards in supporting

INCREASING INTERNATIONAL
“ International and meeting the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals
COLLABORATION AND REACH
Standards are •
(SDGs) adopted by world leaders.
During the World Standards Day
Partnership and collaboration are at
the heart of ISO’s consensus-based a critical catalyst competition, organized by the World
Standards Cooperation (IEC, ISO, ITU)1),
standardization process.
participants from around the world created
for economic 15-second videos imagining a world
In 2016, we continued to reach
without standards.
out to partners and standards
users. This is how we stay
recovery.” • The World Bank Group and ISO signed
a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
relevant and maintain
to increase collaboration and support
confidence in our standards. Joakim Reiter, UNCTAD Deputy
Secretary-General the integration of developing countries
in the global economy.
• As an active member of the International
Geneva Perception Change Project,
ISO joined the United Nations and other

INTERNOVER 700 international organizations in various

ORGAN ATIONAL
initiatives emphasizing the relevance of

VOLVE IZATION
our work within an international framework
ARE IN
O WO S
(infographics, children’s book, etc.).
D IN IS
RK. • Ms Ranyee Chiang spoke about
ISO standards for clean cookstoves at
a UN-hosted #TEDxNations.
• ISO held its first insurance industry
workshop in London to show how
conformity assessment standards can help
Together with our members and partners, we organized manage and reduce risk.
a number of thematic global social media campaigns. • ISO continued to support small
and medium-sized enterprises
• #SDGwednesday (SDGs launch)
(SMEs) with new dedicated handbooks
• #healthstandards (World Health Day) SMEs handbooks on adventure tourism safety, risk
• #servicestandards (ISO services workshop)
management and quality management.
• #energyefficiency (COP22)
• #fakesunsafe (anti-counterfeiting) 1) International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

14 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 15

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

LOOKING OUT ISO HA

S MOR
FOR OUR HEALTH
THAN 1 E New ISO 24521:2016
 3
Good health and FOR HE00 STANDAR for wastewater

AL DS
TRY ; O TH COVERI
treatment could
well-being are one DENTIS
improve sanitation
of the SDGs aiming to FOR TR PTICS NG :
AND IN ANSFUSIONS ; EQUIPMEN for 2.4 billion people.
HEALTHJECTIONS ; M  ; INFUSIONST
improve lives by 2030.
INFORM EDI

2
Standards give us confidence ATICS, CAL DEVICES
that medical equipment,
ETC.  ;
laboratory testing and
evaluations are reliable and
that our patient data is safe.
They can help governments
ensure their communities
receive the quality of care
they deserve. They are a
harmonizing force that helps
increase the effectiveness
and reliability of medical care
across countries. And they
make it easier to develop the
medical solutions that the “ [The] IDMP will help eliminate death
market needs.

• ISO is updating its standards and injury caused by medication

for the Identification
of Medicinal Products interactions or allergies, and
(IDMP) to harmonize
medical drugs globally and greatly improve pharmacovigilance
ensure the right medication ISO 13485:2016 on the
for the right patient.
quality of medical devices became and drug monitoring.”
• ISO began work on
the most popular new standard
standards for vapes
(most downloaded/bought) in 2016. Lisa Spellman, Director of Global Standards,
(e-cigarettes). American Health Information Management Association

16 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 17

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

STIMULATING A SERVICE ECONOMY

“With the growth in
In today’s economy, services are becoming number of [service]
drivers of economic growth, but their
rapid expansion carries many risks – lack providers, standards
of control, consumer exploitation, poor
quality, inefficiency, questionable business play an absolutely
practices and other obstacles for which
International Standards can help. vital role.”
It is estimated that, by 2018, the David Shark, Deputy Director-General,
services sector will account for about World Trade Organization (WTO)

79 % of employment. Anticipating

IS
RE O H
this growth, we launched our
services strategy in 2016 L A
IN ATE S M
to ensure that ISO and its O 0 2 D O
FO N TH 16, TO S RE T
T R E 5
members have the tools
AN HALATELE APP CA VIC N 7
ER HA
D F SS HE LIC SE ES. 00
and knowledge to meet

IN OT ALT ATI S ST
the demand for service
AN H H O T
CIA ERA , DR N O U AN

3
standards.
L M PY IN F S DI DA
ES , EV KIN ERV ES
• Opened by the World
Trade Organization (WTO), SA EN G W IC W RD
the ISO workshop on standards GI T S A E S ER
NG U TE TA E P S
as solutions for services was . S R N
TA FA DA UB
IN CI R LIS
held in Geneva in June 2016 and AB LI DS H
ILI TIE ED
featured standardization bodies as TY S,
well as consumer and international
The new ISO strategy ,
trade organizations. for services 2016-2017
• ISO organized its first ever focuses on communication
Facebook Live, reaching out to and outreach initiatives
over 300 000 people so they and fostering a better
could engage with participants understanding of
at its services workshop. market interests.

18 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 19

HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

STRENGTHENING DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

OVER 2 MILLION SWISS FRANCS
WORTH OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING
ISO’s future is strategically linked to that of developing
ACTIVITIES WERE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE NEW
ISO ACTION PLAN FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IN 2016,
countries. They make up a great portion of our world COMPARED WITH 1.5 MILLION SWISS FRANCS IN 2015.
and the majority of our membership.
43 developing countries took
The advancement of developing countries advantage of ISO sponsorship to
is imperative if humankind is to progress.
attend various technical meetings.
In 2016, our goal was to support those
ISO members that struggle because
of limited resources or complex
national situations while
encouraging members from • The new ISO Action Plan for
emerging economies that developing countries 2016-2020 was
stand to make important launched, setting the strategic direction
contributions to international for the next five years.
standardization in • A project aimed at strengthening
the short term.
ISO Action Plan institutional infrastructure on
standards and regulations to support
business and industry in the Middle East
and North Africa (MENA STAR) was

4
105* COUNTRIES
rolled out in eight countries thanks to
the support of the Swedish International
PARTICIPATED Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
IN ISO NATIONAL, • The “ new rights ” pilot, which allows
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL correspondent and subscriber members
CAPACITY-BUILDING to participate in up to five committees as
INITIATIVES, TRAINING full members, had 33 participants in 2016
3 005 PEOPLE. (3/4 of all correspondent and subscriber
*Out of 124 developing country
ISO members.
members ).
• Ms Majd Majed Shatnawi of Jordan won
the ISO/DIN essay contest for young
standardizers in developing countries
for her work on developing Jordan’s urban
environment with ISO standards.
20 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 21
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016 New ISO committees in 2016 :
• Energy management and energy savings (ISO/TC 301)
IMPROVING STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT • Auditing management systems (ISO/PC 302)
• Consumer warranties and guarantees (ISO/PC 303)
To ensure the relevance of our work and continue to
• Healthcare administration (ISO/TC 304)
develop the solutions the world needs, it is important • Sustainable non-sewered sanitation systems (ISO/PC 305)
that we constantly strive to improve the standards • Foundry machinery (ISO/TC 306)
development process. • Blockchain and electronic distributed ledger technologies (ISO/TC 307)
• Chain of custody (ISO/PC 308)
In 2016, we focused on project • Governance of organizations (ISO/TC 309)
management to increase efficiency • Wheeled child conveyances (ISO/PC 310)
and timeliness. Our ambition is

5
not simply to go fast, but to get
the standards out when the IN 2016, ISO
market needs them. We also saw
PRODUCED A
RECORD NUMBER
the emergence of many new
OF PAGES OF
technical committees, which
ISO DELIVERABLES,
emphasize the relevance of
our work to meet today’s UP BY
changing needs. NEARLY 10 % • The International
Classification of
COMPARED Standards (ICS) was
TO 2015. updated.
• In 2016, the focus was on
project management for
standards development.
• The ISO Committee on
conformity assessment
developed a set of frequently
asked questions to help
ISO technical committees
develop the right type of
On average, 14 technical standard for each situation.
meetings were in progress • ISO 14001 experts won
every working day, the Lawrence D. Eicher
somewhere in the world. Award for excellence in
standards development.
22 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 23
 6
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

BUILDING A SMART AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD

• ISO and its partners CDP Worldwide
Smart and sustainable communities were big on the agenda and Climate-KIC held a side event
in 2016. It is estimated that 70 % of our expanding world at COP22 on how non-party
population will live in cities by 2050. stakeholders could contribute to
the low-carbon transition, and
participated in another side event
for organizations in the climate

“  We decided to use ISO 37101:2016 to increase •

finance community.
The World Smart City Forum
was held in Singapore in July 2016
economic development, improve quality, by IEC, ISO and ITU, during the
World City Summit, to look at how
reduce our environmental impact and advance standards can help build smarter,
A new International Workshop more sustainable and resilient cities.
social governance and public services.” Agreement (IWA 18:2016) will • ISO 14021 on environmental
help communities adapt to labelling was published
ageing populations. to help organizations make
Ms Shao Xinhua, Director General, Hangzhou Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision,
on the city of Hangzhou, China, being one of the first to use ISO 37101 for sustainable communities voluntary declarations.

In order to meet the needs of the

future, we must start putting in place
solutions now. Sustainability is key
to managing the needs of tomorrow
while limiting our impacts today. From IN 2016, ISO STARTED
carbon footprint to smart cities and THE PERIODIC REVIEW
the many environmental challenges that
businesses face, ISO standards can inspire
OF ISO 50001 FOR ENERGY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, WHICH
us all to take action and use our resources HAS CONSISTENTLY DELIVERED
efficiently, helping countries to meet their SAVINGS OF 5 % TO 30 % ON
Paris Agreement commitments to combat CURRENT ENERGY COSTS TO USERS.
climate change and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals.
24 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 25
 7
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2016

KEEPING UP WITH THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

Nothing defines today’s world better than

the unprecedented speed at which technological
breakthroughs are happening.

International Standards are crucial for

innovators to market new products.
• Robots and humans can now work together
They give confidence in their
thanks to new guidance from ISO/TS 15066 on
quality and safety while ensuring
the safety of collaborative industrial robot systems.
interoperability and compatibility.
• ISO/IEC 27004, which helps assess the
International Standards
effectiveness of an information security
are needed to guide
management system based on ISO/IEC 27001,
researchers and
was updated to help businesses protect
designers in the right
themselves from the growing diversity of today’s
direction. But to stay
cyber-attacks.
relevant, we need to
move fast. In 2016, DID YOU KNOW • The ISO Smart Manufacturing Coordinating
Committee was established to identify gaps,
ISO continued to make ISO HAS COMMITTEES harmonize work, coordinate efforts and share
strides into the most
DEDICATED information, both within ISO and with relevant
TO DRONES,
exciting emerging
organizations such as the IEC.
technologies.
ROBOTICS, ADDITIVE
MANUFACTURING AND
BIOMIMETICS… AMONG
OTHER INNOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGIES ? “ ISO is a ‘united nations’ of technology.
ISO 14034:2016 will help
verify the performance
Only cooperation can lead to mutual
of environmental
technology innovations.
benefit and win-win outcomes.”
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaking at the 2016 ISO General Assembly in Beijing

26 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 27

IMPACT OF OUR WORK ON THE WORLD The 9 ISO MANAGEMENT ISO 14001 (ENVIRONMENTAL
SYSTEMS standards MANAGEMENT) grew
ISO standards are everywhere. They impact every part of our evaluated in the survey
by 8 %, exceeding the threshold
lives, but to what extent ? Here are a few examples of what we saw amassed a combined total
of 300 000 certificates.
in 2016 (certification results, innovator stories and user benefits). of more than 1 500 000
certificates.

CERTIFICATES WORLDWIDE

ISO does not perform certification,

+3 %
from 2014
yet this remains one of the most
popular ways of demonstrating
conformance to our management
systems standards (MSS).
To evaluate the impact we make
on the world, each year we perform
a survey compiling the number Results for ISO 50001 (ENERGY MANAGEMENT)
of valid certificates to key MSS were striking, with nearly double the number
standards worldwide. Only the ISO/IEC 27001 of certificates (almost 12 000) of the previous year

x2
certificates issued by certification (INFORMATION SECURITY) (almost 6 800).
bodies accredited by members
experienced a 20 % growth
of the International Accreditation
from the previous year (2014)
Forum are taken into account.
In 2016, we published the results despite it being an already widely
for the previous year. Here are used standard – a reflection of
some highlights at end of 2015. the global concern with cyber
security. 3 months after publication,
already 4 200 organizations
had been certified to
the new ISO 9001:2015
(QUALITY MANAGEMENT) and
1 000 organizations to ISO 14001:2015
(ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT).
28 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 29
IMPACT OF OUR WORK ON THE WORLD
“ If we can have an ISO standard,
STANDARDS FOR INNOVATORS then it’s easier to design suitable
devices. ISO is very important for
By offering a solid base, a common language and a layer of
confidence, ISO standards help the world’s greatest minds
promoting new designs.
concentrate on pushing the limits and taking us to new places. After obtaining ISO 13482,
The 2016 “ Dare to dream big ” campaign featured three we can expand our technology to
inspiring innovators who revealed how standards helped them different countries. We couldn’t
reach new heights. (www.iso.org/innovators) have done it without ISO.”

Prof. Yoshiyuki Sankai, founder and CEO

of Cyberdyne, on designing a new type of
cyborg-like robot

“ [Drip irrigation] will bring real

“ [ISO standards] provide that solid base
revolution to the developing world.
that allows us to exchange between
Standards are guiding us
partners, in fact between all the people
in the manufacturing process.
involved in finding solutions. Without
The developing world deserves to get
[standards], we would never have been Videos the best, and the best is achieved if
able to understand each other.”
you follow the standards.”
André Borschberg, pilot and co-founder of Solar Impulse, on making
aviation history by completing the longest solo solar-powered flight Naty Barak, Chief Sustainability Officer of Netafim, on increasing awareness
ever achieved without fuel or polluting emissions of drip irrigation as a sustainable and water-saving technology

30 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 31

IMPACT OF OUR WORK ON THE WORLD “ The development of open, voluntary, consensus-
based and globally relevant standards is a major
BENEFITS OF STANDARDS “ ISO/TR 8124-8 provides
us with an additional and
#118
focus driver for a robust and competitive Internet
of Things (IoT) marketplace. Standards
Your gateway to International Standards

Throughout the year, our

important tool for use in are particularly crucial for IoT because
magazine ISOfocus put Our
the determination of the connected they provide the basis for interoperability,
forward stories of users who future
have benefitted from using appropriate lower age grade which is needed to ensure that new IoT
standards. Here are some for a product. It is also viewed systems and legacy technology systems
of the success stories. as the most current document can work together.”
that includes guidelines for David Welsh, Corporate Standards at Microsoft, ISOfocus #118
new technologies that are
being incorporated into toys.”
“ ISO 22000 is a
world-class standard.
It incorporates the #117
focus
Your gateway to International Standards
“ ISO 26000 is the most
comprehensive and
ISO 50001 (ENERGY MANAGEMENT)
brought tangible benefits to users :
best in management concise guidance of
• Cummins, Inc. saved OVER
practices and the latest what an organization USD 3 MILLION ANNUALLY.
in food safety systems should do to contribute to
• LG Chem Ltd reduced its energy
design.” sustainable development. consumption BY 10 % and costs
Albert F. Chambers, President A time for
Lisa Deluise,
Quality Product
It is vitally important BY USD 9 MILLION.
TRUST to increase the global
of Monachus Consulting,
ISOfocus #117
Analyst at Hasbro,
ISOfocus #117
• The US Department of Energy
use of ISO 26000, and, demonstrated that facilities using
in so doing, enable the standard outperformed those that
partnerships among didnʼt BY UP TO 65 %.
governments, private
“ One of the key benefits of ISO/TS 13131
#115
focus
Your gateway to International Standards
has been the provision of quality
sector and civil society.
These will be key to #119
focus
Your gateway to International Standards

telehealth services, thus ensuring

ensuring the Sustainable
seamless cooperation globally,
Development Goals The rise of
interoperability of systems and a reliably energy efficiency
are met.”
high standard of delivery, no matter where
in the world our assistance is required.”
lifesigns Professors Adriana Rosenfeld and
Adriana Norma Martínez from the
Dr Ryan Copeland, Regional Medical Director National University of Luján in
at International SOS, ISOfocus #115 Argentina, ISOfocus #114 ISOfocus #119

32 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 33

 ISO IN FIGURES 2016 New projects

1 855 new projects (work items) registered

Portfolio of ISO standards
Liaisons
21 478 International Standards and standards-type documents published
711 international organizations were
including 1 381 deliverables in liaison with ISO technical committees
= 973 914 pages in English and French (terminology and subcommittees
is also often provided in other languages)

ISO members
By technical sector at the end of 2016

163 national standards bodies

= 119 full members
+ 40 correspondent members
+ 4 subscriber members
Engineering technologies

Materials technologies

Electronics, information technology

and telecommunications

of goods

sciences and services

Agriculture and food technology

Health, safety and environment

Special technologies
27.3 %

21.8 %

17.7 %

10.7 %
Transport and distribution

9.3 %
Generalities, infrastructures,

5.6 %

4.1 %

2.5 %

1 %
Construction
38 member bodies provide the administrative
and technical services for the secretariats of
committees in the ISO technical programme

ISO technical committee structure

Work in progress Meetings

3 555 technical bodies
= 247 technical committees

4 997 work items appeared 1 509 technical meetings + 508 subcommittees

+ 2 674 working groups
on the work programmes of organized in 2016 in 45 countries + 126 ad hoc study groups
technical committees
= 169 meetings of technical committees
= 1 648 work items at preparatory stage + 376 meetings of subcommittees
+ 754 committee drafts + 964 meetings of working groups
ISO staff
+ 2 595 Draft International Standards (DIS)
144 full-time staff from 20 countries
or ad hoc groups
and Final Draft International Standards (FDIS)
coordinate the worldwide activities of ISO
34 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 35
ISO IN FIGURES 2016 Summary of financial performance (in kCHF)
2016 2015
ISO FINANCES REVENUE
2016 was a record-breaking year for ISO finances. Membership fees 21 149 21 146

The growing demand for standards resulted in higher revenue Royalties received from members selling ISO standards 10 505 8 598
compared to 2015, but a drive towards efficiency and optimized Revenue from members 31 654 29 744
spending meant that our operating expenses were considerably
Revenue – net sales and services 6 075 7 062
reduced compared to the previous year. The added surplus
allowed us to partly fund the ISO Action Plan for developing Funding for developing countries 2 035 1 551
countries and reinvest into projects supporting the deployment Funding for promotion of ISO system - 39
of the ISO Strategy 2016-2020. Funding for ISO projects 2 035 1 590
Net financial revenue 62 54

TOTAL REVENUE 39 826 38 450

Summary of cash flow statements (in kCHF)

EXPENDITURE
2016 2015
Operations 31 629 33 938
Projects for developing countries 2 035 1 551
Net cash from operating activities 5 665 4 121 Projects for promotion of ISO system - 39
Net cash from projects for 32 609 ISO projects 2 035 1 590
developing countries
Net cash (used in)/from investing (64) 185 Amortization of fixed assets 294 685
activities
Net increase in cash 5 633 4 915 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 33 958 36 213
and cash equivalents
Operating result 5 868 2 237

CONTROL Changes in restricted funds (3 629) (1 250)

Cash and cash equivalents 29 972 25 057
Changes in unrestricted funds (2 239) (987)
at the beginning of the period
Cash and cash equivalents 35 605 29 972 Addition to restricted and unrestricted funds (5 868) (2 237)
at the end of the period
Increase 5 633 4 915 Unattributed net result 0 0

36 | ISO annual report 2016 ISO annual report 2016 | 37

Balance sheets as of 31 December (in kCHF)
2016 2015
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents 35 605 29 972
Receivables, prepaid expenses and accrued income 2 676 3 374
Total current assets 38 281 33 346

NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Securities and investments 0 0
Rent guarantee for ISO Central Secretariat premises 2 167 2 167
Fixed assets 352 582
Total non-current assets 2 519 2 749

TOTAL ASSETS 40 800 36 095

LIABILITIES AND FUNDS

CURRENT LIABILITIES
Suppliers, accrued liabilities and provisions 2 300 2 980
Membersʼ retrocessions 3 977 4 770
Revenue received in advance 2 105 1 827
Total current liabilities 8 382 9 577

FUNDS
Restricted funds 7 575 3 914
Unrestricted funds 24 843 22 604 For more information
Total funds 32 418 26 518 about ISO and its work :
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUNDS 40 800 36 095 iso.org
38 | ISO annual report 2016
International Organization
for Standardization
ISO Central Secretariat
Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CP 401
CH – 1214 Vernier, Geneva
Switzerland

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© ISO, 2017
All rights reserved

We care about our planet.

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ISBN 978-92-67-10732-5