nonISO

NonISO is a term used in some industries to describe products, processes, or organizations that do not conform to ISO standards or operate outside the ISO framework. It is not a formal standard or specification; rather, it serves as a descriptive or marketing label. The meaning of nonISO can vary by context, and it is often used in contrast to ISO-certified or ISO-compliant sources.

In procurement and supply chains, references to nonISO commonly appear in supplier questionnaires, product datasheets, or risk assessments. The absence of ISO certification does not automatically indicate poor quality or noncompliance; rather, it signals that formal ISO conformity has not been achieved or verified. Some organizations use nonISO to indicate that a process follows non-ISO procedures while still meeting applicable laws and customer requirements, while others use the term to signal that a certification process is pending or unavailable.

Because the term is not standardized, the exact meaning of nonISO should be clarified by the context or by requesting supporting documentation. Useful documents might include declarations of conformity, audit reports, or certificates of nonconformity with specified corrective actions. In regulated or safety-critical sectors, reliance on nonISO labeling without verification can carry risk, underscoring the importance of explicit qualifications and evidence.

See also: ISO, ISO certification, conformity assessment, declarations of conformity, standards bodies.