National and International Standards in Product Design

Understanding Standards

Standardisation: This refers to establishing agreed upon levels of quality or attainment in product design. This can refer to manufacturing practices, safety measures or environmental considerations.
International Standards Organisation (ISO): This is a body that formulates worldwide industrial and commercial standards. Familiarity with ISO standards can inform design decisions to ensure that products are marketable and usable worldwide.
British Standards Institution (BSI): This body sets and maintains standards for British industries. Understanding these standards is important for product designs aiming for the UK market.

Safety Standards: Ensuring products meet safety standards is essential. These standards minimise risk of injury or harm to users.
Quality Standards: Meeting quality standards ensures a product performs its intended function adequately and reliably. Standards such as ISO 9001 focus on quality management and are universally recognised.
Environmental Standards: Compliance with standards such as ISO 14001, which focus on Environmental Management Systems, demonstrates commitment to sustainability in product design.

Manufacturing standards: Knowledge of processes such as ISO/TS 16949, which pertain to quality management in the automotive industry, can guide decisions around the production methods used in your design.
Design standards: Incorporating recognized design standards facilitates usability and accessibility. For example, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set internationally recognised standards for web design to ensure accessibility for all users.
Sustainability: Standards relating to environment and sustainability should be integrated into the design process. Standards like ISO 50001 address energy management, encouraging reduced consumption and lower carbon output.

Regular compliance checks: Regular and systematic testing and evaluation of products is necessary to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant standards.
Non-compliance implications: Understanding the potential ramifications of non-compliance, such as product recalls, legal action, or damage to reputation, underscores the importance of meeting standards.
Testing procedures: Employing appropriate testing procedures to ensure that the product consistently meets specified standards is essential. Testing might involve user trials, laboratory testing, or performance reviews.