International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) - definition

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a global standards organisation responsible for the development and publication of international standards in the fields of electrical engineering, electronics, power technology and related areas of engineering. Founded in 1906, the IEC operates as an independent, non-governmental, non-profit association with national standards committees from more than 80 countries.

The IEC's goal is to create uniform and consistent technical standards that promote interoperability, safety, energy efficiency and technological innovation on a global scale. These standards cover a wide range of topics - from the basic parameters of electrical components, through electromagnetic compatibility, equipment safety, to smart grids, electromobility, industrial automation and digital technologies.

The IEC structure is based on technical committees (TCs), subcommittees (SCs) and working groups (WGs), which bring together experts from different countries and industry sectors. The standards development process is transparent, consensus-based and internationally co-operative, which ensures that the standards are widely accepted and up-to-date in the face of rapidly changing technological requirements.

The IEC collaborates with other standards organisations, such as ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) and ITU (International Telecommunication Union), to harmonise standards and avoid duplication. This cooperation has resulted, among other things, in joint ISO/IEC standards, particularly relevant in the fields of ICT and cyber security.

The standards published by the IEC provide a reference for regulation, safety regulations, conformity assessment systems and certification criteria. They also facilitate global trade, reduce technical barriers and foster the development of innovative products while ensuring their compliance with user and environmental requirements.

Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) is one of the world’s largest global distributors of electronic components, electrotechnical parts, workshop equipment, and industrial automation. The catalog includes over 1,500,000 products from 1,300 leading manufacturers. TME’s modern logistics centers in Łódź and Rzgów (Poland), with a combined area of over 40,000 m², ship nearly 6,000 packages daily to customers in more than 150 countries.

TME also invests in the development of knowledge and skills of young engineers and electronics enthusiasts through the TME Education project, and supports the tech community by organizing the TechMasterEvent series, promoting innovation and experience exchange.