Terminology and Standards – ISO 704, ISO 1087 & Co.
Standards form the backbone of professional terminology work. They ensure clarity, consistency and comprehensibility — both within a company and in communication with external partners, authorities or customers. Anyone maintaining terminology systematically cannot ignore established standards. But what exactly is behind ISO 704, ISO 1087 & Co.? And how can standards compliance be implemented in daily practice?
Why standards are indispensable in terminology work
Standards define how terms are to be created, described and structured. They help standardize processes, clarify interfaces, and make content reproducible. Especially in regulated industries — such as medical technology, automotive or mechanical engineering — standards-compliant terminology is even a prerequisite for certifications.
Overview: Key standards
- ISO 704: Describes principles and methods for creating terminology
- ISO 1087: Defines basic terminology concepts such as concept, designation, definition
- ISO 860: Standardizes harmonization of terminology systems — e.g. in mergers
- DIN 2330 / 2342: Key German standards on definition and term formation
- IEC 61355: Structuring and classification of documents, e.g. in electrical engineering
Standards compliance as part of quality management and compliance
Standards-compliant terminology work has a strong impact: It improves traceability in audits, supports regulatory requirements, and enhances the clarity of technical content — internally and externally. In tenders, testing procedures or risk assessments, it is often seen as an advantage or even a requirement.
flashterm: Structured terminology according to ISO 704 & ISO 1087
flashterm is consistently aligned with international standards. Its underlying data model allows for structured documentation of concepts, terms, synonyms, definitions, sources, context information and relationships — fully in line with ISO 704 and ISO 1087.
- Standards-compliant fields for terminology work: required and optional fields
- Concept-based structure instead of simple language pairing
- Editing logic for synonyms, preferred and rejected terms
- Support for ISO-related workflows like review, approval, versioning
Real-world example
A company in the automation industry uses flashterm specifically to prepare for ISO certifications. The transparent terminology structure, the separation of designation and concept, and the standards-compliant definition process enable clean documentation. During an audit, the system was explicitly highlighted as a best-practice solution.
How companies benefit from standards compliance
Applying standards-compliant terminology work goes far beyond merely fulfilling formal requirements: it builds trust in technical content, supports international collaboration, and ensures consistent product information across all channels. Especially in multilingual projects, structured terminology significantly improves translation quality and comprehension.
It also creates synergies in product development and marketing: When terms and concepts are used consistently, internal and external communication becomes more efficient. flashterm provides the ideal foundation — transparent, traceable and tailored to your standards landscape.
Conclusion
Standards-compliant terminology work is not an end in itself — it provides the foundation for quality, clarity and consistency. With flashterm, companies can implement these requirements professionally while staying practical and efficient.
Field Notes
"We used flashterm to prepare our terminology database in compliance with standards — the audit was no issue."
"By separating designation and concept, we avoided duplicates and misunderstandings."
"Our departments now follow ISO 704 when defining terms — thanks to clearly structured input fields."
"The structured concept model also helped integrate international teams better."
Book a free live demo and discover how flashterm helps you achieve standards compliance in terminology work.