At the global level, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) are the most prominent bodies. ISO produces standards in a wide range of fields, including management systems, environmental management, and ISO/IEC 27001 for information security. IEC focuses on electrical, electronic, and related technologies, issuing standards such as IEC 60335 for appliances and IEC 61508 for functional safety. ISO and IEC often collaborate through joint technical committees (JTC) to harmonise standards in overlapping domains.
Regional organisations such as the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), and the European Committee for Standardization for information technology (ETSI) coordinate national standardisation efforts within the European Union. These bodies adapt or endorse ISO/IEC standards to meet regional regulatory and market needs.
National organisations provide local expertise and representation. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates the development of standards and accredits standard-setting bodies. Germany’s Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN), Japan’s Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS), and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) are key examples, each operating through expert committees and consensus procedures.
Most standardisation organisations follow a consensus-based, transparent process, comprising stages such as proposal, preparatory, committee, enquiry, approval, and publication. They engage stakeholders—including industry, academia, government and consumers—to ensure that standards are relevant, practical, and free from undue influence. By enabling interoperability, fostering innovation, and facilitating trade, standardisation organisations play a crucial role in the modern global economy.