Institute of European Standards and Quality 
Work with a defined purpose
The starting point is the question to be answered: a requirement to interpret, a characteristic to evaluate, a process to examine or a professional capability to develop. The object and intended use determine the appropriate activity.
Areas of work
Standards and technical guidance concerns the application of requirements. Product quality and supplier quality concern evidence and performance. Sustainability and traceability, laboratory quality, research and learning address related technical needs.
Choose by need
For a product question, begin with its category and intended use. For a supplier project, identify the purchasing decision or quality risk. For a technical document, identify the user and practical difficulty. For learning, identify the work a participant should be able to perform.
Methods and outputs
Methods may include document review, structured evaluation, research and learning activities. Each assignment states the evidence to be considered and the output to be delivered. Testing, inspection and certification are separately identified where they form part of a defined arrangement.
Sector context
The same method may serve different sectors, but requirements and evidence depend on the application. Sector pages set out the relevant questions without extending the scope of an activity to every product in a broad category.
Technical resources
Publications explain methods, terminology and recurring technical issues. Use the document's scope and edition to judge its relevance. A guide supports the work of its reader; it does not replace the applicable requirements or an assessment decision.
Discuss a requirement
Describe the object, intended use, market or contractual context and the decision that the work needs to support. Include relevant references and the type of result required. A clear initial scope helps distinguish the appropriate activity from work outside it.