Ok, here we go. Finally we are getting into the realm of ISO for security companies, which I have commented on in the past. This has been one of those goals of the industry for a long time, and it is great that the process is moving forward.
Below I have posted two articles packed with some good information on some ISO case studies, and why it will be a good thing for this industry. The case studies section came to some very interesting conclusions as well. Check this quote out?
Overall, the 21 case studies demonstrate that the benefits of using standards are valued, in terms of contribution to company gross profit, at between 0.15% and 5% of annual sales revenues.
So how can standards like these, actually increase a company’s annual sales revenue? Well, the studies came up with some key benefits of the ISO which all contribute to this increase. To me, it is all about getting companies throughout the world, playing by the same rules and standards, which also opens up the market for these companies wishing to be more global. It’s all about having a standard that is universally recognized, so a client knows that an ISO company in Germany is operating on the same level as an ISO company in India. They might not offer the same types of services or even the same quality, but at the least, they both abide by a standard of operation that is agreed to as the ‘international standard’.
Clients will also know what they are getting when contracting with such a company, and they will also know who to complain too if said company is not living up to this standard. Here is a list of a few of the benefits of the ISO.
Streamlining internal company processes
Decreasing waste and internal costs
Increasing the efficiency of research & development
Innovating business processes
Reducing risk
Enabling international expansion
Supporting development of new products and markets
What is also important to note is that this ISO is primarily focused on PSC’s and not PMC’s. Although to me, there is a lot of cross over between the two types of companies. This standard sounds like it is not applicable to maritime either, but I could be wrong there. For this ISO, they are making this distinction and will probably build upon it to make a custom ISO for Maritime Security Companies and Private Military Companies. Here is a quote.
The standard creates a framework for establishing, monitoring, and maintaining management of private security services and applies to any land-based private security provider; the standard does not apply to private military companies (PMCs), which work in military settings and offer direct tactical military assistance.
Pretty cool, and if anyone has anything to add, feel free to do so in the comments. –Matt
ANSI Seeks Comments on Proposed New ISO Standard on Private Security Provider Operations
October 4, 2012
ASIS International, a member and accredited standards developer of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), has submitted a proposal for a new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard focusing on quality management for private security companies. As the U.S. member body to ISO, ANSI invites all interested stakeholders to submit comments on the proposal by Friday, October 26, 2012.
The proposal recommends the adoption of the American National Standard ANSI/ASIS.PSC.1:2012, Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations – Requirements with Guidance, as an ISO management system standard. The proposed International Standard provides the principles and requirements for private security service providers, including private security companies (PSCs), with an emphasis on the establishment of auditable criteria, as well as accountability to relevant local laws and international human rights agreements.
The standard creates a framework for establishing, monitoring, and maintaining management of private security services and applies to any land-based private security provider; the standard does not apply to private military companies (PMCs), which work in military settings and offer direct tactical military assistance.
Interested parties are invited to review the proposal, and to submit relevant comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI director of international policy (scornish@ansi.org), by the close of business on Friday, October 26, 2012.
All input received by ANSI will be compiled and presented to the ANSI ISO Council (AIC) along with a recommended ANSI position on the proposal. Relevant documents will be submitted to ISO before the proposal deadline.
Read the ASIS proposal and justification study.
ANSI has published an explanatory information document outlining the process used to develop U.S. positions on issues and activities under consideration by ISO and IEC. Click here to download the document.Story here.
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ISO Releases Case Studies on the Benefits of Standardization
October 3, 2012
By Roger Frost, originally published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has recently published the second volume of Economic Benefits of Standards, a book-length work compiling a collection of case studies demonstrating that consistently implementing standards provides benefits for companies, regardless of their size, business sector, or the country they are based in. The studies found a wide variety of quantified benefits associated with comprehensive use of standards, including:Streamlining internal company processes
Decreasing waste and internal costs
Increasing the efficiency of research & development
Innovating business processes
Reducing risk
Enabling international expansion
Supporting development of new products and marketsThis new compilation includes 10 case studies of companies from nine countries: Mauritius, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, China, Cameroon, Senegal, and Italy. The first volume of Economic Benefits of Standards, published in 2011, examined 11 companies operating in a variety of business sectors in 10 countries. The size of the companies varies from small enterprises with 25 employees and annual sales revenues of around USD 4.5 million, to those with several thousand employees and annual revenues of over USD 2 billion. Overall, the 21 case studies demonstrate that the benefits of using standards are valued, in terms of contribution to company gross profit, at between 0.15% and 5% of annual sales revenues.
The studies have been carried out by ISO’s Central Secretariat in Geneva in cooperation with ISO national members and academic institutions. They are based on “the ISO Methodology” for the assessment and quantification of the economic benefits of standards. The new book includes a description of the methodology, which was developed by ISO in cooperation with Roland Berger Consultants.
Free PDF files of the studies contained in Volumes 1 and 2 can be accessed here.
Story here.