Overview of Standardization

Standardization
  • Definitions of Standards
    Standards refer to rational bases (requiring an enactment through consensus and approval from an authorized agency) regarding products, concepts, methods, and procedures intended to promote efficiency and economy in all industry areas.
    Standardization refers to organized activities of a majority of people trying to meet these bases (or standards).
    Standardized technology is technology applied with rational bases to ensure efficient use and exchagibility organizationally, nationally, and internationally regarding exiting or newly developed technology.
  • Purposes of Standards
    Standards maximize public interests by standardizing diverse tasks, improving technological processing, securing exchangeability among technologies, and ensuring safety and quality of products. They also provide the foundation for commercialization of technology related to standardized patents. Improving Quality of Products and Production and Work Efficiency, Saving Costs, and Simplifying Educational Trainings
    • Efficiency

      improving work efficiency through standardization of diverse tasks and technological processes

    • Exchangeability

      improving exchangeability among devices and technologies such as software and common use among stakeholders

    • Public Interest

      maximizing public interests through standardization of product safety, product warranty, and environmental regulations

    • Commercialization

      commercialization through standardized patents (combining standardization and patents)

    • Integration

      providing solutions through integration of similar or related technologies

  • Classification of Standards
    Classification by Area
    • Standards in Humanities and Social Science :

      language, symbols, laws and regulations, behavior codes, responsibility, tradition, and customs

    • Standards in Science and Technology :

      codified standards (documented standards), measurement standards (units such as length and time), and reference standards (observed information and statistical information)

    Classification by Enacting Entity
    • Official (Formal) Standards :

      standards enacted by an authorized standardization agency or association based on official procedures or officially approved by a standardization agency or government (such as KS)

    • Informal (Virtual) Standards :

      standards popularly dictated by market share and consequent technical specifications of dominant companies (MS Window, Excel sheets, or USB)

    Classification by Area
    1. Company Standards

      standards used in a specific company

    2. Organizational Standards

      standards enacted and used by a specific group (such as Korea Water & Wastewater Works Association)

    3. National Standards

      standards used in a specific country (such as KS, JIS, and BS)

    4. Regional Standards

      standards used in a specific region (EN standards of Europe)

    5. International Standards

      standards enacted by an international standardization agency and applied internationally (such as ISO, IEC, and ITU)