During the May Plenary there were a number of discussions of Smart Standards and what this initiative might mean for the work of the Subcommittees that make up TC 46. This is a brief explainer on Smart Standards.
SMART standards refer to the formats, processes, and tools that enable users, both human and technology-based, to interact with standards in a digital environment. These digital solutions are designed to meet the needs of various stakeholders, including manufacturers, regulators, standards developers, and end users.
For manufacturers, integrating SMART standards into their product and service lifecycles offers several benefits. It helps accelerate development processes, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with the latest applicable regulations. By adopting SMART standards, manufacturers can streamline their operations and stay up-to-date with industry requirements.
Regulators also play a crucial role in the SMART ecosystem. By being part of the SMART standards framework, regulators can ensure consistency between market-driven standardization and policy-guided regulations. This alignment helps create a harmonized environment where standards and regulations complement each other, fostering innovation and compliance simultaneously.
Standards developers, too, stand to gain from SMART standards. They can leverage advanced digital tools to enhance content creation and automate processes throughout the development lifecycle. This approach makes standards development more efficient and effective, enabling faster and more accurate dissemination of information.
End users are major beneficiaries of SMART standards. Digital standards can be tailored to their specific needs and constantly updated to reflect the latest advancements. This ensures that users have access to relevant, accurate, and up-to-date information. By making standards easily accessible and user-friendly, SMART standards enhance usability and promote widespread adoption.
While existing formats like paper and PDF will still be available, international standards will gradually evolve to meet the growing digital needs of stakeholders and society. SMART standards embrace the digital evolution, facilitating improved communication, collaboration, and utilization of standards in a rapidly advancing technological landscape.
The need for SMART international standards arises from the ongoing evolution of technology and its impact on global business, collaboration, and information consumption. With the proliferation of smart devices, the collection, analysis, and sharing of data have become integral to innovation and meeting the needs of individuals, societies, and economies.
Current standards developed by organizations like the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) primarily focus on human users. While computers can read these standards, they cannot interpret and process them comprehensively.
The next generation of IEC and ISO standards aims to provide tailored and up-to-date content that can be effectively utilized by humans, computers, complex machines, and small intelligent devices. These standards will be seamlessly integrated into product development supply chains and become an integral part of daily life for various stakeholders.
The IEC and ISO are well-positioned to drive the implementation of SMART standards due to their long-standing history of delivering trusted and high-quality standards. Their collaborative and consensus-driven approach to standardization ensures that SMART standards can be developed with the input and expertise of a wide range of stakeholders.
To lead the way in developing and distributing SMART standards, the IEC/ISO SMART program focuses on several key areas. These include identifying and understanding the needs of standards users and how SMART standards can address them, exploring new business models for distributing and commercializing SMART standards, specifying and piloting the technical architecture supporting SMART standards, assessing the impact of SMART standards on conformity assessment processes, and developing communication materials to engage with the IEC and ISO communities.
By embracing SMART standards, the IEC and ISO aim to ensure that their products and services remain relevant and attractive to markets and societies, both now and in the future. Through this digital evolution, standards can keep pace with technological advancements and facilitate innovation, efficiency, and compliance in various industries.