Standardization

Standardization (also called standardization) is the process of developing, applying, and improving standards that are used in various scientific, industrial, or economic activities., in order to order and improve them. For its part, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines standardization as the process of formulating and applying rules, for an orderly approach to a specific activity, for the benefit and with the cooperation of all those involved.

According to the International Organization for Standardization, standardization is the activity that aims to establish, in the face of problems such as real or potential, provisions intended for common and repeated uses, in order to obtain an optimal level of ordering in a specific context. given, which can be technological, political or economic.

Objectives

Standardization basically pursues three objectives:

• Simplification: it is about reducing the number of models and rules depending on each, to stay only with the most necessary ones.
• Unification: this is about allowing international exchanges and comparisons.
• Specification: It is intended to avoid identification errors, creating clear and accurate language.

The large sums of money that developed countries invest in standards bodies, both national and international, is an indication or proof of the importance given to this issue.

Organizations

Private Standardization Organizations

• ICAO - American Concrete Institute
• API - American Petroleum Institute
• ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineering
• ASME - American Society of Mechanical Engineers
• ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials
• HL7 - Health Level Seven Inc.
• IAPMO - International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
• NEMA - National Electrical Manufacturers Association
• NFPA - National Fire Protection Association
• NSF - NSF International
• UL - Underwriters Laboratories Inc.

Regional Standardization Organizations

• AMN - Mercosur Standardization Association
• APEC - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
• CENELEC - Européen Committee of Normalisation Electrotechnique - European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization
• CEN - European Standardization Committee
• COPANT - Pan American Commission on Technical Standards
• CROSQ - Caribbean Community Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality
• RAN - Andean Network of Standardization

National Standards Organizations

Some examples of national standards bodies are:

* Corresponding member of ISO ** ISO Subscribing Member

International Organizations for Standardization

• ISO - International Organization for Standardization.
• IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission.
• IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
• ITU - International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T and ITU-R).
• IATA - International Air Transport Association.
• Codex Alimentarius - International Food Standards.
• RABQSA - International Management Systems Standards.