BSI Group

BSI Group
Non-profit distributing incorporated body operating under Royal Charter
Founded 1901
Headquarters London, United Kingdom
Number of locations
 73 offices in 28 countries [1]
Area served
 Worldwide
Products standards and standards related services
Revenue Increase£331.1m (2015)[2]
Number of employees
 Over 3,500 (2015)
Subsidiaries List of BSI countries
Website www.bsigroup.com

BSI Group, also known in its home market as the British Standards Institution (or BSI), is a multinational business services provider whose principal activity is the production of standards and the supply of standards-related services. The Group's overarching mission today is to help organization's embed organizational resilience.[3]

History

BSI Group headquarters building in Gunnersbury, West London, featuring the BSI Group logo

BSI Group was founded as the Engineering Standards Committee in London in 1901.[4] It subsequently extended its standardization work and became the British Engineering Standards Association in 1918, adopting the name British Standards Institution in 1931 after receiving its Royal Charter in 1929. In 1998 a revision of the Charter enabled the organization to diversify and acquire other businesses, and the trading name was changed to BSI Group.

The Group now operates internationally in 182 countries.[5] The core business remains standards and standards related services, although the majority of the Group's revenue comes from management systems assessment and certification work.[6]

Standards

A standard is a published document that contains a technical specification or other precise criteria designed to be used consistently as a rule, guideline, or definition. All standards take the form of either: specifications, methods, vocabularies, codes of practice or guides.

All formal standards are developed with a period of public enquiry and full consultation. They incorporate the views and expertise of a very wide range of interests from consumers, academia, special interest groups, government, business and industry. As a result, standards represent a consensus on current best practice.

Standards are designed for voluntary use and do not impose any regulations. However, laws and regulations may refer to certain standards and make compliance with them compulsory. For example, the physical characteristics and format of credit cards is set out in standard number BS EN ISO/IEC 7810:1996. Adhering to this standard means that the cards can be used worldwide.

As the UK’s National Standards Body, BSI is responsible for producing and publishing British Standards and for representing UK interests in international and European standards organizations such as ISO, IEC, CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. Formal British Standards are titled BS (for British Standard) XXXX[-P]:YYYY where XXXX is the number of the standard, P is the number of the part of the standard (where the standard is split into multiple parts) and YYYY is the year of publication.

BSI produces standards on a wide range of products, services and processes, from nuts and bolts to sustainability, risk, organizational resilience and nanotechnology.

Activities

BSI produces British Standards, and, as the UK’s National Standards Body, is also responsible for the UK publication, in English, of international and European standards. BSI is obliged to adopt and publish all European Standards as identical British Standards (prefixed BS EN) and to withdraw pre-existing British Standards that are in conflict.[7] However, it has the option to adopt and publish international standards (prefixed BS ISO or BS IEC).

In response to commercial demands, BSI also produces commissioned standards products such as Publicly Available Specifications, (PASs), Private Standards and Business Information Publications. These products are commissioned by individual organizations and trade associations to meet their needs for standardized specifications, guidelines, codes of practice etc. Because they are not subject to the same consultation and consensus requirements as formal standards, the lead time is much shorter.

BSI also publishes standards-related books, CD-ROMs, subscription products and web-based solutions as well as providing training on standards-related issues.

Management Systems Assessment and Certification

BSI Group is the world’s largest certification body. It audits and provides certification to companies worldwide who implement management systems standards. BSI also provides a range of training courses regarding implementation and auditing to the requirements of national and international management systems standards.

It is independently accredited[8] and assesses a wide range of standards and other specifications including:

BSI has 80,000 clients in 182 countries and operates across all continents (including Antarctica).[9]

BSI Group also offers a range of training services on how businesses can implement and audit management systems effectively.

Testing Services and Healthcare

BSI Group Kitemark certification symbol

Within Testing Services, BSI's best known product in the UK is the Kitemark, a registered certification mark first used in 1903.[4] The Kitemark – which is recognized by 82% of UK adults[10] – signifies products or services which have been assessed and tested as meeting the requirements of the related specification or standard within a Kitemark scheme.

BSI also conducts testing of products for a wide range of certifications, including for CE marking. CE marking must be applied to a wide range of products intended for sale in the European Economic Area. Frequently manufacturers or importers need a third-party certification of their product from an accredited or ‘Notified’ body. BSI holds Notified Body status for 15 EU Directives,[11] including construction products, marine equipment, pressurized equipment and personal protective equipment.

BSI also conducts testing for manufacturers developing new products and has facilities to test across a wide range of sectors, including construction, fire safety, electrical and electronic and engineering products.

Within Healthcare, BSI provides regulatory and quality management reviews, and product certification for medical device manufacturers in Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and China.[12] It is the market leader in the USA, the world’s biggest healthcare market.[13]

Milestones

Acquisitions

Starting in 1998, BSI Group has adopted an aggressive policy of international growth through acquisition as follows:[18]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ Press Release. "BSI reports highest profits and revenue in 114 year history". www.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "BSI Group financial information". bsigroup.com. BSI Group. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Web page. "Organizational Resilience". www.bsigroup.com. BSI Group. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Robert C McWilliam. BSI: The first hundred years. 2001. Thanet Press. London
  5. ↑ Press Release. "BSI reports highest profits and revenue in 114 year history". www.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014, page 20" (PDF). www.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  7. ↑ European Committee for Standardization Benefits and Principles Archived August 7, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ info@ukas.com (2008-11-15). "United Kingdom Accreditation Service Certification Body Schedules". Ukas.com. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  9. ↑ "Global contact details". www.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "Annual Review 2006, page 15" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  11. ↑ "BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2009, page 97" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  12. ↑ "BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2009, page 11" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  13. ↑ "BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2009, page 24" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  14. ↑ BSI was founded in 1901
  15. ↑ "Annual Review 2006, page 24" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  16. ↑ http://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/about-bsi/media-centre/press-releases/2004/4/BSI-Brand-Joins-The-Super-League/ BSI Press Release 2004
  17. ↑ Superbrand Official Top 500 2012
  18. ↑ "History of BSI Group". Bsigroup.com. 1929-04-22. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  19. ↑ "BSI Press Release 22 March 2010". Bsigroup.com. 2010-03-22. Retrieved 2012-04-03.
  20. ↑ "BSI strengthens position in Australia with acquisition of NCS International". BSI. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Press Release:BSI enters US consultancy market with EORM acquisition". BSI Group. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  22. ↑ "BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014, page 59, Post balance sheet events" (PDF). www.bsigroup.com. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  23. ↑ Press Release. "BSI acquires Espion to boost global information security expertise". BSIGroup.com. BSI Group. Retrieved 22 April 2016.

External links

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