IMAGINE a world where your credit card would not fit into every cash machine, or where you could not just stroll into a shop and find the right lightbulb for your lamp.For that matter, imagine a world without telephone codes, country and currency codes, and access to the Internet. How would you know where a call came from, or how to reach a specific region?

If we didn’t have standards, communication between people, machines, parts and products would be extremely difficult. As such, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will be observing National Quality Week commencing October, 12 to October 16, 2015. In addition, World Standards Day will be commemorated on Wednesday, October 14.

GNBS Public Relations Officer Lloyd David, says World Standards Day will be commemorated under the theme, ‘Standards: The world’s common language.’ As is customary, he said, the bureau has planned a week of activities to mark the occasion. These include television programmes; a mini exhibition at Main Street, Georgetown; print (newspaper) and electronic (radio) messages; an education forum for secondary school students from schools in Regions 3, 4 and 5, to be held at the Benab at the Exhibition Complex in Sophia; and a staff- appreciation day and long-service awards ceremony among other events.

David explained that standards bring technological, economic and societal benefits. They help to harmonise technical specifications of products and services, making industry more efficient, and breaking down barriers to international trade.

“Conformity to international standards helps reassure consumers that products are safe, efficient, and good for the environment. International standards are strategic tools and guidelines to help companies tackle some of the most demanding challenges of modern business. They ensure that business operations are as efficient as possible, increase productivity, and help companies access new markets,” David expanded.

He noted that when products and services conform to international standards, consumers can have confidence that they are safe, reliable, and of good quality. For example, ISO standards on road safety, toy safety, and secure medical packaging are just a selection of those that help make the world a safer place, he said. “To make sure that the benefits of ISO International Standards are as broad as possible, ISO supports the involvement of consumers in standards development…. ISO standards draw on international expertise and experience, and are therefore a vital resource for governments when developing public policy. National governments can use ISO standards to support public policy,” David underscored.

By Rabindra Rooplall