The role, key challenges and tasks of international standardization were discussed on October 10 at the first national forum "Standardization-2019" in St. Petersburg. Leading Russian and international experts, heads of national standardization bodies, representatives of business and public associations gathered at the site.
"The forum will be the starting point for the annual event. We should be able to meet to discuss issues of concern, tasks and best practices of international, regional and national standardization", - said the moderator of the plenary session of the forum, head of Rosstandart A.V. Abramov in his welcoming speech.
The forum "Standardization-2019" was organized by FGUP "STANDARTINFORM" with the support of the Ministry of industry and trade of Russia and the national body for standardization – Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology (Rosstandart).
The role of standardization in the national and world economy was a red line in the expert discussion. As a member of the Public chamber of the Russian Federation, Deputy Chairman of the Union of machine builders of Russia B. S. Aleshin noted, standardization is the main ideological engine of the industry: "you can prove to the customer that your products are the best in different ways. But the whole progressive world is on the path of standardization. When the implementation of the standard guarantees high product quality and competitiveness. Underestimating standardization in the economy leads to its stagnation."
Eddy Njoroge, President-elect of the International organization for standardization (ISO) for 2020-2021, took part in the event, naming four key vectors of ISO's work in the coming years. Firstly, the search for a solution on how to use standards to equalize the global imbalance in trade. Secondly is the use of standards for the industrial revolution, especially in new digital industries. The thesis of the widespread use of international ISO standards is also known, but no less important, according to Eddy Njoroge, is the analysis of the practical use of their application. "Finally, the active involvement of developing countries in the development of standards is necessary," added the elected head of ISO.
As Alexey Abramov noted, in today's conditions ISO is a cementing element that allows keeping balance in the world. Bogdan Topic, President of the Slovenian Institute of standards, is of the same opinion: "One of the main challenges of recent years for standardization is the challenge of a trade war. All ISO and IEC members must support international standardization to prevent this war. Apart from their national members, the role of regional organizations is important."
John Pace, Vice President of the American society of testing and materials (ASTM International), voiced the business point of view on standardization processes. In his opinion, todays key challenges are disputes about costs and underestimation of the standards value, copyright infringement and illegal translations of standards, complexity of procedures for harmonization and adoption of documents. It is possible to overcome these challenges only through partnership and communication between all members of international organizations for standardization, as well as the involvement of new participants in the development of standards.
First Deputy Chairman of the RSPP Committee on technical regulation, standardization and conformity assessment A. Lotsmanov, Deputy Minister of economic development and investment of the Republic of Armenia Albert Babayan, heads and representatives of national standardization bodies of Serbia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina also shared their vision of ways to develop international standardization.
GU Baozhong, Deputy head of the state administration for standardization of China, spoke about the future steps in Chinese-Russian cooperation. First of all, it is joint work on standardization in civil aviation, electric power, oil and gas sector and agriculture.
The forum also held open sessions, one of which was devoted to the professional competencies of "Standardization of the future" and the tools of standardization and certification for the development of small businesses and quality assurance of state orders.