World Standards Day 2018

Lets celebrate standards!

Sometimes it’s a good idea to step back and think of all the things we take for granted. We live in a world where we can trust the systems around us to do their jobs.

We don’t have to worry about our electrical systems catching fire, our vehicles going out of control or our clothing falling apart. Our bridges don’t collapse and our plumbing systems don’t poison us. Of course there are occasional problems, but for the most part our lives are underpinned by efficient, smooth-running systems that help us stay healthy, happy and productive.

These systems are worth celebrating. Every year on 14 October countries around the globe celebrate World Standards Day, marking our appreciation for the standards that we all rely on.

Standards are as important as ever in the face of technological change. The changes known as the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 present us with challenges and opportunities. Standards are essential to addressing both.

What is Industry 4.0?

We are living in a time when technology – and its ability to fuse the physical, digital and biological worlds – is raising fundamental questions about what it means to be human. We are now capable of transforming fields such as medicine, transportation and construction in ways that will bring huge change to our lives.

The question is are the benefits of Industry 4.0 greater than the risks? How can we embrace new ways of working without making ourselves vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches? A BSI film provides an introduction to Industry 4.0, explaining how standards and processes can help organizations thrive in these times of promise and uncertainty.

IoT in our interconnected world

The Internet of Things (IoT) is about using smart devices and big data to improve our everyday lives. This revolution, currently in its infancy, can do everything from controlling the way our homes are lit, heated and secured to influencing how farmers monitor and nurture their crops. Autonomous tractors are coming soon to a field near you!

For industry, IoT means improvements in efficiency and productivity through measures such as intelligent logistics and digital supply chains, and smart roads and cities could make travel a smoother, more pleasant experience.

Delivering the potential of IoT is reliant on robust, well-informed standards helping to deliver a level playing field. Check out this BSI film to understand more about how standards are helping to deliver IoT innovation.

A driving force in autonomous vehicles

Connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) are big business. By 2035 the global CAV market is predicted to reach £900bn, with the UK leading the way in testing and standards.

The category of CAV includes the driverless cars we’ve all heard about, as well as pods and shuttles. The technology uses sensors and on-board systems to assist navigation, as well as reducing congestion and carbon emissions. This could be the most significant shift in transportation for the last century. Find out more here.

Building, but not on a building site

Some of the negative aspects of construction – the noise, the traffic, the dirt and the expensive site delays – could be reduced significantly through offsite construction. Find out more in this BSI film.

By planning, designing and assembling constituent parts of a building at a factory or elsewhere off-site, construction professionals can address key issues facing the industry, including productivity challenges, a skills shortage and project delivery problems.

Cybersecurity – avoiding the head-in-the-sand approach

According to a survey from EEF, more than one in ten manufacturers have no technology or processes in place to help them judge vulnerability to cyberattack, let alone reduce risk. Progress under Industry 4.0 is dependent on increasingly complex webs of information, but these can be targeted by cybercriminals.

Standards help by giving organizations guides and processes that lead them through the steps they need to take to address the issue of cybersecurity. With company reputation, product integrity and even safety on the line, cybersecurity is an area that simply cannot be overlooked any longer. Find out more here.