Abstract for the presentation The impact of the international standardization in products and processes for its strengthening in Mexico.

SLFB 2013-06-06

I’d like to ask you a question. What does worth mean? To explain the question, how can you

determine the worth of a product, an industrial process, a measurement process or even the

worth of a sustainable process, the worth of your family? Surely, we have different answers

because the meaning of “worth” is subjective but we all agree that the worth of something is

proportional to its quality.

To ensure the quality in products, processes and services, we refer to the term “standardization”.

A standard provides technical description of the characteristics to be fulfilled by the product,

system, service or object in question. In order to ensure a sustainable development, governments

use national and international standards.

International standardization is the voluntary process of developing technical specifications based

on international cooperation and consensus among all interested parties.

Conformity assessment is the process used to show that a product, service or system meets

specified requirements.

Standardization has an important role to ensure the quality of products, processes and services,

and also in mitigating the effects of climate change to make a better world.

How does international standardization work in Mexico?

There are three supports: standardization, conformity assessment bodies and metrology.

In Mexico there are three kinds of national standards: Official Mexican Standard (NOM), their use

is obligatory, Mexican Standards (NMX), their use is voluntary and most of them are supported in

international standards (i.e. the NMX 17025 is supported in IEC-ISO 17025, and uses for work a

calibration laboratory), Reference Standards (NRF), created by publics administrations entities

(CFE and Pemex) when national standards doesn’t fit their needs.

The conformity assessment bodies have an important role to ensure the right practice of the

standards. There are three kinds of conformity assessment bodies: certification, inspection and

testing.

Metrology: a national center of metrology provides traceable precision measurements.

All this processes opens up Mexican markets for world trade. The World Trade Organization (WTO)

is comprised of the International Standardization Organization (ISO), the International

Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunications Unit (ITU).

The impact of the international standardization in México.

In Mexico, there are 10 national standardization organisms which edit the Mexican standards that

are registered by the General Standards Direction (DGN) and supported in international standards.

Abstract for the presentation The impact of the international standardization in products and processes for its strengthening in Mexico.

SLFB 2013-06-06

The conformity assessment bodies accredited by the Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA) verify the

right application of these standards. The impact of all this processes can be observed in an

increase of quality and efficiency in products and processes that contribute on a global trade.

Products:

Improvement of quality.

This opens up international markets.

Processes:

Improvement of sustainable processes.

It makes them more efficient.

Cutting costs.

Benefits of international standardization.

International standards are wide accepted and are approved through expert consensus.

All this benefits can be seen in a variety of sectors, i.e. industry, business, society, and

government.

Strengthening by implementing international standards

• Increases global trade and technology transfer.

• Increments quality in an integral aspect.

• Improves national standards.

As conclusions, international standards bring technological, economic and societal benefits. Help

to harmonize technical specifications of products and services. Contribute effectively to

sustainable processes.