Standards Development

1. Standards Development Geoff Visser Standards Executive South African Bureau of Standards

2. Overview of the SABS State owned organization Standards development, testing, certification and regulatory services Employ some 1500 people Publish some 500 standards pa Collection of some 5000 national standards (SANS) Through 450 active standards development committees South Africa, through the SABS, has a long history of active participation in ISO structures: its TC�s, the TMB, and even Council. We like to think of ourselves as a well developed standards body in a developing country We are led by our market We participate internationally in areas that are important to us To allow access to international markets to our manufacturers �����.And to allow the importation of factors of production We have also identified the need for alignment of national standard in the Southern African region (SADC) We have a commitment to a free trade area Also as part of the NEPAD initiative the need to intra-African trade has been identified as a key strategic imperative for South Africa and the African Continent � for this reason we are actively involved in ARSO We share many problems with other economic regions and for this reason we also have close relationships with COPANT and PASC. South Africa, through the SABS, has a long history of active participation in ISO structures: its TC�s, the TMB, and even Council. We like to think of ourselves as a well developed standards body in a developing country We are led by our market We participate internationally in areas that are important to us To allow access to international markets to our manufacturers �����.And to allow the importation of factors of production We have also identified the need for alignment of national standard in the Southern African region (SADC) We have a commitment to a free trade area Also as part of the NEPAD initiative the need to intra-African trade has been identified as a key strategic imperative for South Africa and the African Continent � for this reason we are actively involved in ARSO We share many problems with other economic regions and for this reason we also have close relationships with COPANT and PASC.

3. Structure Three business units dealing with: Conformity assessment Testing Certification Training and other services Regulatory services Standards development Implemented Cluster Communication system internally to communicate across business units In Jan 2005 we started a reengineering project to achieve Improvements in processing efficiency Better stakeholder alignment Optimum use of ICT tools Addressing client and stakeholder contact As part of the process, we conducted independent customer perception surveys of the different business units to see where there were areas for improvement. In order to achieve our objective of better coordination � we decided to implement a sector coordination system internally to share with one another � developments In Jan 2005 we started a reengineering project to achieve Improvements in processing efficiency Better stakeholder alignment Optimum use of ICT tools Addressing client and stakeholder contact As part of the process, we conducted independent customer perception surveys of the different business units to see where there were areas for improvement. In order to achieve our objective of better coordination � we decided to implement a sector coordination system internally to share with one another � developments

4. In order to ensure that customer and stakeholder needs are addressed across business units � sector coordination committees were established.In order to ensure that customer and stakeholder needs are addressed across business units � sector coordination committees were established.

5. What are the challenges? Standards Development promote standardization to all stakeholders broaden our stakeholder base secure and maintain the interest and involvement of leaders of Industry, government departments, and significant consumer organizations Conformity Assessment Expand services in important markets Extend services to small and medium organizations Our engagements identified that in standards development we need to: Promote standardization to all stakeholders Broaden our stakeholder base secure and maintain the interest and involvement of leaders of Industry, government departments, and significant consumer organizations Conformity Assessment Expand services in important markets Extend services to small and medium organizations Our engagements identified that in standards development we need to: Promote standardization to all stakeholders Broaden our stakeholder base secure and maintain the interest and involvement of leaders of Industry, government departments, and significant consumer organizations Conformity Assessment Expand services in important markets Extend services to small and medium organizations

6. Standards National standards Developed by consensus In Technical Committees Representing the needs of the local stakeholders

7. Committees Balanced representation of: Users (groups) Manufacturers (groups - various levels) Other interest groups The State

8. Benefits of Standardization Better communication Simplification Economy, cost saving, interoperability Safety, health, protection of life Elimination of trade barriers Publicly available � walk in sales (Pretoria and Regional offices) and web store Version control � formal amendments process Standards can be referred to in tenders, contracts and regulations

9. Types of Standard Specifications (mark/non-mark) Codes of Practice Standard Methods CKS (Government purchasing) Recommended Practices �Private�

11. Concepts National, not SABS, Standards Committee-driven SABS maintains and channels requests to committees SABS acts as facilitator/publishing house Project approach

12. Routine Maintenance of Standards Five year review period Questionnaire approach Options: - reaffirm - amend/revise as necessary - withdraw

13.  Thank you! www.sabs.co.za