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Standardization levels and formulation of standards

Short answer

Standardization establishes agreed rules for products/processes. Levels: company, national (e.g., NBSM), international (ISO). Steps: need identification, draft by committee, circulation, comment, revision, approval, implementation, periodic review. Advantages: interchangeability, reduced variety, lower cost, improved quality, safety, easier trade.

What is standardization? Describe the levels of standardization (company, national, international) and explain the steps in formulation and implementation of a standard. State the advantages of standardization.

Standardization is the process of establishing and applying agreed rules, dimensions and procedures for a product, process or service so that they can be used widely and repeatedly with the least variety.

Levels

  • Company standardization: set inside one firm for its own products, materials, tools and methods (for example preferred sizes of its fasteners).
  • National standardization: set by a national body for the whole country, such as Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology (NBSM), BIS in India, BSI in the UK, ANSI in the USA, DIN in Germany.
  • Regional and international standardization: by bodies such as ISO (International Organization for Standardization), IEC (electrotechnical) and ITU (telecom); ISO standards (for example ISO 286 for limits and fits) allow international trade.

Formulation and implementation

  1. A need is identified by industry, consumers or government.
  2. A technical committee of experts prepares a first draft.
  3. The draft is circulated to manufacturers, users and the public for comments.
  4. Comments are reviewed and the draft is revised.
  5. The final standard is approved and published.
  6. It is implemented through training, quality control and certification marks, with inspection by the body.
  7. It is reviewed periodically (usually every 5 years) and revised or withdrawn.

Advantages

Interchangeability and reduced variety, lower cost through mass production, better quality and safety, simpler design and purchasing, easy maintenance and spare parts, and smoother national and international trade.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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