The definition of standard:
A quality system standard is a document that presents recommended elements of a quality system that have been observed in successful companies. It identifies the minimum requirements by a customer who desires a proper level of confidence in the quality assurance and the quality system of a supplier. All standards of this kind allow the user some flexibility in quality assurance intensity and extensiveness; i.e., they allow some scope in interpretation and application of the requirements laid out in the standard. Standards simplify negotiations between business partners. They lead management to the establishment of a quality system which is of proven effectiveness and, through its documentation, can be audited and registered. "Standards have assisted many companies to focus upon the importance of quality within their organizations and to identify and improve upon some of their inefficiencies. a prescribed set of conditions and requirements, of general or broad application, established by authority or agreement, to be satisfied by a material, product, process, procedure, convention, test method; and/or the physical, functional, performance, or conformance characteristic thereof.
