How does the Standards Engineering Society (SES) define a standard?

The Standards Engineering Society (SES) defines a standard as a document prepared by an organization. This definition highlights the formal nature of standards, which are created through a structured process involving input from various stakeholders, including industry experts, regulators, and other relevant parties.

Standards serve as established frameworks that provide specifications, guidelines, or characteristics for materials, products, processes, or services. They are not merely optional guidelines or best practices; instead, they are rigorously developed documents that aim to ensure safety, quality, and interoperability among different systems or components.

Standards often undergo a comprehensive review and consensus process, ensuring that they are grounded in reliable research, expert input, and practical application. This structured development process differentiates a standard from other concepts, like government regulations or unverified practices, both of which lack the same level of formal validation and consensus.

In this context, defining a standard as simply a guideline or relating it to government regulations does not capture the essence of how standards are formulated and recognized within the industry.