On World Standards Day 2018
World Standards Day 2018 sends important signals. Just as standards were important during the first industrial revolution, they will also play a crucial role in the fourth industrial revolution.
World Standards Day 2018 took place on 14 October. World Standards Day is celebrated annually on 14 October. This year's World Standards Day 2018 focused on the "Fourth Industrial Revolution". What great significance this "revolution" might have for our understanding of quality is largely uncertain. But a look in the rear-view mirror of history could provide a small insight:
With the transition from manual to machine manufacturing in the 18th century, the need for standards increased, for example to replace machine parts and enable the mass production of parts. The term "Fourth Industrial Revolution" refers to the new technologies whose use blurs the traditional boundaries between the physical, digital and biological worlds.
Being in a transitional phase
The increasing interconnectedness of people and things will affect the way we produce, trade and communicate, much as steam power affected the production methods and lifestyles of many societies during the first industrial revolution.
ISO experts are convinced: today, standards once again play a key role in the transition to a new era. The rapid change we are currently experiencing would not be possible without standards. Innovators rely on international standards, such as those produced by IEC, ISO and ITU, to ensure compatibility and interoperability.
In this way, new technologies can be adopted seamlessly. Standards are also an instrument for the worldwide dissemination of knowledge and innovations.
Challenges and safety standards
However, the rapid pace of change brought about by the fourth industrial revolution presents us with challenges. Robots and artificial intelligence are taking over more and more tasks that were previously done by humans. Additive manufacturing (also known as 3D printing) will change the way we make goods. It will allow us to "print" items at home.
As all sorts of objects, from airplanes to baby monitors, are digitally networked, the sensitivity of data, potential privacy breaches and their consequences also increase exponentially. These are just a few selected examples of the problems of "smart" technologies of a new generation, which are characterized by big data, advanced integration, storage of data in the cloud and open communication of devices, among other things.
International standards are a powerful way to ensure security and minimize risks. For example, security standards can ensure that our data remains safe and hackers are deterred. Safety standards for robots will make it easier for them to interact with humans. The fourth industrial revolution has begun. But to fully realize its potential to improve society, standards are needed.
Voluntary and yet important honorary posts
The members of the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union) organizations rightly draw attention to important social and technical developments with World Standards Day. The day also recognizes the collective efforts of thousands of experts worldwide.
There are still many quality and standards experts who draw up technical agreements to be applied voluntarily, which are later published as international standards.
