Need for standards and their development

Abstract The word “standard” is used for various issues and has different purposes and different meanings and definitions. In this chapter standard is used to describe its application in science and technology. In accordance with ISO/IEC GUIDE 2:2004 in science and technology, the English word “standard” is used with two different meanings, as normative standard and as a measurement standard. In this chapter, the meaning and application of normative standard will be described in detail. Normative standard is a document, established by consensus and approved by a recognized body that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context. In essence, a standard is an agreed way of doing something. It could be about making a product, managing a process, delivering a service, or supplying materials—standards can cover a huge range of activities undertaken by organizations and used by their customers. Standards are the distilled wisdom of people with expertise in their subject matter and who know the needs of the organizations they represent—people such as manufacturers, sellers, buyers, customers, trade associations, users, or regulators. Standards are produced for many different products and services, and may be created for company, national, regional, or global application. They may be used on a voluntary basis, or made mandatory by company policy, national or international regulation, or by law. In Europe there are three different categories of standard: ● International Standard—a standard adopted by an international standardization organization. ● European Standard—a standard adopted by a European standardization body. ● National Standard—a standard adopted by a national standardization body and made available to the public.