Studies on benefits of standards

This webpage contains information on studies on the economic and social benefits of standards for trade, national economies, industry sectors, individual companies and citizens. It is intended as a reference repository of studies that address economic and other benefits of standards, their impacts and their relevance for international trade, innovation and economic development. The studies have been undertaken by different authors, such as national and international standards bodies, research institutes, universities and other international agencies.

An effort has been made to include in this repository studies based, as far as possible, on recent and original field research. However, the repository remains a working tool: it does not attempt or claim to be exhaustive, nor does it set any form of hierarchy among existing studies.

ISO members, researchers and anybody interested in this matter are invited to provide input and feed-back, thus contributing to improving the quality and extent of the inventory.

The list of publications and resources identified are organized in three sections:

Case studies

This section contains information on case studies with a focus on the microeconomic impacts of standards as seen from individual companies in various countries. Many case studies apply the ISO Methodology for the assessment of economic benefits of standards, which aims at an identification and quantification of the benefits companies can derive from the use of standards. Other studies demonstrate benefits companies can gain from the participation in standards development or show impacts standards have in certain industry sectors and growth of markets.   

Title / Abstract Year
Shenzhen Transport Commission, China This is a study conducted to determine the non-economic benefits of standards for the bus companies of the Shenzhen Transport Commission. The Commission is responsible for the management of transport in general. The study reveals how the introduction of an intelligent standards-based dispatching ... more 2014
Jinan 12345 Public Service Hotline, China This is a study conducted to determine the non-economic benefits of standards for a public enquiry service of Jinan, the capital of Shangdong Province. It is an open multi-functional public service hotline integrating 38 public governmental service hotlines including urban management, power supply ... more 2014
Shenzhen Meteorological Service Center, China This is a study to determine the non-economic benefits of standards on the Shenzhen Meteorological Service Center (SMSC). In providing public meteorological information services, industrial meteorological safeguards and technical services for lightning protection, SMSC uses Chinese and internal ... more 2014
Shenzhen Ping An Insurance, China This is a study conducted to determine the social and environmental benefits of standards for a major insurance company, the Ping An Property and Causality Insurance Company of China. Using ISO, ISO/IEC and Chinese standards for particular critical issues like risk management, catastrophe insurance ... more 2014
Shenzhen Water Resources Bureau, China This is a case study conducted to determine the non-economic benefits created by the use of standards in one of the first water resources bureaus in China, the Shenzhen Water Resources Bureau. The Bureau is responsible for the development and protection of water resources, flood control, water ... more 2014
Schenzhen LED Standards Alliance, China This is a study conducted to determine the non-economic benefits of standards developed by the Shenzhen LED Standards Alliance (LSA) for the LED lighting industry. The assessment focuses on three types of LSA member organizations: two manufacturers, three suppliers and one consumer of the LED ... more 2014
Shanghai Shuguang Hospital, China This is a case study conducted to determine the non-economic benefits of standards. The enterprise chosen for the study is Shanghai Shuguang Hospital (Shuguang), one of the earliest traditional Chinese medicine and non-profit hospitals in China. Founded in 1906, and affiliated to the Shanghai ... more 2014
Baltika Breweries, Russian Federation This is a case study conducted to determine the economic benefits. The enterprise chosen for the study, is Baltika Breweries, Russia's leading beer brand. It has a market share of 38.2 % and is one of the largest, fastest-moving consumer goods companies. The study focuses on five business ... more 2013
Singapore City Square Mall, Singapore This is a case study conducted to determine the economic benefits of standards. The enterprise chosen for the study is Singapore¿s ¿City Square Mall¿ (CSM), a public facility providing retail outlets for many types of goods and services. Developed , owned and managed by one of Singapore¿s leading ... more 2013
Teckwah Industrial Corporation Ltd, Singapore This is a case study conducted to determine the economic benefits of standards. The enterprise chosen for the study, Teckwah Industrial Corporation Ltd. (Teckwah), provides cost-effective solutions in printing & packaging, turnkey software manufacturing, value chain manufacturing and service part & ... more 2013
MAGA Engineering (Pvt) Ltd., Sri Lanka The company selected by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI), ''Maga Engineering (Pvt)'', is a leading constructor employing over 180 engineers, including chartered engineers with wide experience in the technical and managerial aspects of the industry, both locally and overseas:
The ... more 		2012
Chococam, Cameroon The company selected for this study by the Standards and Quality Agency of Cameroon (ANOR) is ''Chococam'' one of the two leading companies dominating the cocoa industry in Cameroon. Chococam is specialized in the manufacture of chocolate-based products and various sweets from cocoa mass and has a ... more 2012
Holcim Lebanon S.A.L., Lebanon For the conduct of this study, the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) selected ''Holcim Lebanon (HL)'', a subsidiary of Switzerland-based HOLCIM Ltd, one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates (crushed stone, sand and gravel). HL has an estimated 45% share of the Lebanese ... more 2012
Petra Engineering Industries Co., Jordan The company selected for this study by the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization is ''Petra Engineering Industries Co.'', a leading engineering company in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry. With over 1500 employees, including more than 300 engineers, the company ... more 2012
Water Senegal, Senegal For the conduct of this study, the Standardization Association of Senegal (ASN) has chosen ''Water Senegal - SDE (Sénégalaise des Eaux)'', a private limited company with regional offices across the country. With over a thousand employees, SDE serves around 5 million people and operates within an ... more 2012
Mapei, Italy Chosen by the Italian National Standards Body (UNI), the Mapei Group is the world's leading manufacturer of mortars, adhesives, grouts, sealants, waterproofing agents, additives for concrete and other speciality products for the building industry.
The group comprises 68 subsidiaries, 18 main ... more 		2012
Plastic Pipes and Products, Piping Systems Ltd., Mauritius The company chosen by the Mauritius Standards Bureau for this study, ''PPP PSL'', manufactures plastic pipes and fittings made of PVC-U as well as polypropylene pipes for electrical conduit applications. Among one of the first companies in Mauritius to be certified to ISO 9001, PPP PSL manufactures ... more 2012
Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd., China The Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China (SAC) chose to conduct this study on the ''Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. Ltd.'' (referred to as DSCI), a holding subsidiary of the China Shipbuilding Industry Limited Liability Company.
The main features characterizing ... more 		2012
Juhayna Food Industries S.A.E., Egypt Initiated by the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control (EOS), this study has been conducted on a leading producer and distributor of packaged milk, juice and yogurt products in Eqypt: ''Juhayna Food Industries S.A.E''. With 3 860 employees at the time of the study, the ... more 2012
Xinxing Ductile Iron Pipes Co. Ltd., China Iron and steel is one of the most important raw material industries in China. For this study, the Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China (SAC) has chosen a large enterprise positioned in the downstream segment of the iron and steel industry value chain: ''Xinxing Ductile ... more 2012
Siemens AG, Germany Chosen by the DIN German Institute for Standardization, this study has been carried out in collaboration with the switch technology and standardization divisions at ''Siemens AG''.
Switch technology involves essential components for the transport and distribution of electrical energy for uses ... more 		2011
Pretoria Portland Cement Company Limited (PPC Cement), South Africa The South African Bureau of Standards chose to conduct an assessment on a cement manufacturing company, ''Pretoria Portland Cement Company Limited (PPC Cement)''. Comprised of eight manufacturing plants and three milling depots, the company is a reliable supplier to the civil, commercial and ... more 2011
DanPer Trujillo and Civil Association FríoAéreo, Peru Peru is among the leading exporters of asparagus. Considering the Peruvian asparagus value chain, the National Institute for the Protection of Competition and Intellectual Property (INDECOPI), together with the Peruvian Standardization and Non-tarriff Barriers Surveillance Commision, decided to ... more 2011
Gerfor, Colombia The company chosen by the Colombian Institute for Technical Standards and Certification (ICONTEC), ''Gerfor'', is a Colombian multinational active in the plastics and synthetic fibres sector of the petrochemicals industry and a leader in the production and commercialization of PVC and CPVC piping ... more 2011
Nanotron Technologies GmbH, Germany Selected by the DIN German Institute for Standardization for the conduct of an assessment, ''Nanotron'' is a medium-sized engineering company participating in the global information and communication technology (ICT). With 25 employees at the time of the study (October 2010-June 2011), Nanotron ... more 2011
Lobatse Clay Works (PTY) Ltd., Botswana The Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) chose to conduct the assessment of a brick manufacturing company ''Lobatse Clay Works'' with a view to determine whether standards had an impact in terms of cost savings and product quality. Lobatse Clay Works has an approximate 48% share of the domestic ... more 2011
Electrical Devices Joint Stock Company No. 1 (VINAKIP), Vietnam An activity of the ASEAN common market is to provide common technical specifications for production and services based on regionally harmonized standards as well as international standards. Electric and electronic products are among the first in this harmonization and in Vietnam the electrical ... more 2011
PT. Wijaya Karya (WIKA) Beton, Indonesia For this study, the National Standardization of Indonesia (BSN) has chosenn a concrete manufacturing company ''PT WIKA Beton'', one of the largest subsidiaries of PT Wiyaya Karya (WIKA)', Indonesia's leading integrated EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and investment company. In 2008, ... more 2011
NTUC Fairprice, Singapore This study focuses on the impact of standards in the supermarket sector of the food retail business. Led by the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING SG), the project was conducted on Singapore's largest supermarket retailer, ''NTUC FairPrice'', which has a network of over 240 ... more 2011
Festo Brasil, Brazil The company selected by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) for this study, ''Festo Brasil'', is a subsidiary of Festo AG, a leading German worldwide supplier of automation technology and solutions. Several initiatives potentially contribute to the growth of the automation ... more 2011
PTT Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTCH), Thailand For the conduct of this study, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) chose ''PTT Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTCH)'', a leading petrochemical company operating across the chemical sector. The study focuses on polymer products which, as finished petrochemical products are used as ... more 2011
Selected Impacts of Documentary Standards Supported by NIST During 2006 the Operating Units (OUs) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) were canvassed for instances where NIST has played an active role in the development or implementation of documentary standards that: (1) have been broadly adopted, or (2) have produced or are ... more 2007
Architecture-Based Approaches to International Standardization and Evolution of Business Models Standardization has a great impact on economic growth - it accelerates technology transfer and cost reduction. As technology progresses rapidly, the price of a product also quickly falls. Consequently, the efficiency of society as a whole is improved and the benefit to consumers is increased. This ... more
Author(s): Junjiro Shintaku (University of Tokyo), Koichi Ogawa (University of Tokyo), Tetsuo Yoshimoto (University of Tokyo)
 2006
International Competition and Global Standards: Business Model for Standardization as Seen in Case Studies For business enterprises, the primary objectives for taking advantage of standardization include "market creation and expansion" and "cost reduction and improvement of production efficiency." However, due to the nature of standardization as public goods, each player is equally able to capitalize on ... more 2005