I. Basic Concepts
What should be considered regarding basic concepts? Based on JIS standard practices, the concepts can be understood through five key aspects: Definition—JIS stands for Japanese Industrial Standards (formulated and deliberated by the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee [JISC]; it is the most important and authoritative national standard in Japan);
Origin—Established in April 1921 following a Japanese government decision to create the Industrial Products Standards Unification Investigation Committee to oversee national industrial product standards (standardization was unified in June 1949); Legislation—The Industrial Standardization Act came into effect on July 1, 2019 (expanding the scope of standardization to include data services; renaming “Japanese Industrial Standards” [JIS] to “Japanese Industrial Standards” [retaining the JIS acronym but changing the Japanese name]; and renaming the law itself); Scope—JIS covers industrial and mineral products, data services, and management systems under the Industrial Standardization Act (JISC); Classification—Technical fields are indicated by letter symbols (A: Civil Engineering & Architecture, B: Mechanical Engineering, C: Electronic & Electrical Engineering, D: Automotive Engineering, E: Railway Engineering); Investigation Committee—The primary task of the JISC is to organize the formulation and deliberation of JIS (investigating and deliberating on products and technical items designated for the JIS Mark; serving as an advisory body on industrial standardization to the Minister of International Trade and Industry and other relevant ministers, such as those for Health, Agriculture, Transport, Construction, Education, Posts, Labor, and Local Autonomy). Understanding these five points—JISC formulation, 1921 origins, the 2019 Industrial Standardization Act, A–E classification, and the committee’s functions—provides a clear grasp of the concepts.
II.
Machinery Safety
What should be considered regarding machinery safety?
Based on JIS machinery safety standard practices, safety is viewed through these aspects: Emergency Stop—JIS B 9703:2019 (corresponds to ISO 13850:2015, IDT adoption); Control—JIS B 9705-1 (corresponds to ISO 13849-1:2006, referenced in machine tool standards); Safeguarding—JIS B 9716:2019 (corresponds to ISO 14120:2015, IDT adoption); Positioning—JIS B 9715 (corresponds to ISO 13855); Detection—JIS B 9963:2022 (corresponds to IEC 62046:2018); Series—JIS B 9700 series (corresponds to ISO 12100 risk assessment, Type A-B-C structure); Levels—Most JIS machinery safety standards are identical (IDT) or modified (MOD) adoptions of ISO/IEC international standards. In summary, the six key aspects of machinery safety are: 9703 Emergency Stop, 9705 Control Components, 9716 Safeguards, 9715 Safeguard Positioning, 9963 Human Detection, and ISO Adoption—forming a closed-loop safety system.
III.
Machine Tool Standards
What to look for in machine tool standards.
Regarding JIS machine tool standards and practices, the key aspects to consider are: Lathes—JIS B 6031:2014 (Machine tools – Safety – Lathes; identical adoption of ISO 23125:2010 + Amd.1:2012); EDM—JIS B 6032:2016 (Machine tools – Safety – Electrical discharge machines; modified adoption of ISO 28881:2013); Safety—Machine tool safety standards reference control component standards (e.g., JIS B 6031 references JIS B 9705-1: Safety of machinery – Safety-related parts of control systems – Part 1: General principles for design); Gears—JIS B 1701-2:2017 (Cylindrical gears – Gear tooth form – Part 2; modified adoption of ISO 54:1996); Accuracy—JIS B 1702-1:2016 (Cylindrical gears – Accuracy – Part 1: Gear tooth surfaces); Threads—JIS B 0217-1 (Metric trapezoidal screw threads – Tolerances – Part 1: Principles and basic data); Classification—JIS Division B: General Machinery (terminology, graphical symbols, spring symbols, cutting tool terminology, etc.). In summary, there are six key areas for machine tool compliance: 6031 (Lathes), 6032 (EDM), control component references, gear tooth forms, accuracy grades, and trapezoidal threads.
IV.
Certification System
What to look for in the certification system.
Regarding JIS Mark certification practices, the certification process involves the following aspects: System—The JIS Mark system is a conformity assessment scheme based on the Industrial Standardization Act (defining key quality standards for mining and industrial products as JIS and verifying product compliance; Japanese Standards Association); Marking—The JIS Mark is authorized under Article 30, Paragraph 1 of the Industrial Standardization Act (only businesses certified by a registered certification body may affix the JIS Mark to certified products; JISC); Certification—Businesses holding a certificate of conformity from a registered certification body may display the JIS Mark on product documentation or service-related documents (all JIS certification bodies must comply with ISO/IEC 17065; the process comprises two elements: conformity assessment of the product/service against the relevant JIS, and quality management system evaluation; JISC); Review—Registered certification bodies conduct reviews based on the relevant JIS, national certification guidelines, and their own established procedures (JISC); Elements—Certification elements include an audit of the factory or office quality management system (initial factory audit) and product testing as specified by JIS (initial product testing; for specific sectors, this involves JIS Q 9001 quality management system compliance audits and product testing; JQA); Application—Applications for JIS Mark certification use the designated application form (generally in Japanese, though attachments may be in Korean or English; KTR)—Six key aspects of certification: conformity assessment system, Article 30 Paragraph 1, ISO/IEC 17065, dual-element certification, initial factory audit plus product testing, and application submission.
V.
Maintenance and Management
What to look for in maintenance and management.
Regarding JIS certification maintenance practices, the maintenance process is viewed through six key aspects: **Schedule**—periodic maintenance reviews must be conducted at least once within three years of the certification contract date (and subsequently at least once every three years, with intervals not exceeding three years, per JQA guidelines); **System**—certified entities must maintain their quality management system (ensuring conformity with JIS Q 9001 and the continued effectiveness of the quality management framework); **Testing**—testing personnel at registered laboratories must possess the requisite knowledge and technical competence to conduct tests in accordance with JIS standards (based on JIS Q 17025 requirements and JET JIS certification guidelines); **Scope**—products and technical items designated for the JIS mark are subject to investigation and deliberation by the relevant committee (JISC); **Renewal**—certified entities must maintain continuous conformity with the applicable JIS standards (verified during periodic reviews); and **Overseas**—overseas entities may also apply for JIS certification (applications are accepted by registered certification bodies and reviewed according to certification guidelines; e.g., KTR in Korea also conducts JIS certification services). In summary, maintenance is ensured by addressing these six areas: three-year periodic reviews, quality management systems, JIS Q 17025 compliance, designated product reviews, continuous conformity, and overseas applications.
Conclusion
What are the JIS standard requirements for non-standard assembly lines?
The conclusion is that they are defined across five dimensions: concepts, machine safety, machine tools, certification, and maintenance.
Concept—JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards): Formulated and deliberated by JISC; originated from the 1921 Industrial Products Standardization Investigation Committee; Industrial Standardization Act enacted in 2019; covers mining and industrial products; classification includes A (Civil Engineering), B (Mechanical), C (Electronics/Electrical), D (Automotive), and E (Railway); Machine Safety—JIS B 9703:2019 Emergency stop function (ISO 13850:2015), JIS B 9705-1 Safety-related parts of control systems (ISO 13849-1), JIS B 9716:2019 Guards (ISO 14120:2015), JIS B 9715 Positioning of safeguards (ISO 13855), JIS B 9963:2022 Presence detection (IEC 62046:2018); most standards are identical adoptions of ISO/IEC; Machine Tools—JIS B 6031:2014 Lathe safety (ISO 23125), JIS B 6032:2016 Electrical discharge machines (ISO 28881), Gear tooth accuracy (B 1701-2, B 1702-1), Trapezoidal screw threads (B 0217-1); Certification—JIS Mark system (Article 30, Paragraph 1 of the Industrial Standardization Act; registered certification bodies; ISO/IEC 17065; dual requirements of product conformity and quality management system; initial factory audit plus product testing); Maintenance—Periodic audits: once within 3 years of the certification contract, then once every 3 years; JIS Q 9001 (Quality Management Systems), JIS Q 17025 (Laboratory Competence); overseas businesses are eligible to apply.
In short, regarding JIS standards: Division B covers machinery safety; the standard is equivalent to ISO; certification requires meeting the “dual-element” JIS Mark criteria; and a periodic review takes place every three years.
Clear these four hurdles, and you can export to Japan with confidence.
