Abstract
The standardization literature offers many possible classifications of standards.
This chapter has been updated till July 1998 and is the verbatim text of an article in Knowledge Organization, Vol. 26 No. 4 (De Vries, 1998e), except for some minor changes:
- the definition of standardization and some short elucidation already given in other chapters of this thesis have been omitted; — some terms have been replaced by abbreviations commonly used in this thesis;
- some references to literature have been replaced by references to other parts of this study;
- a reference to Standardisierung Zwischen Kooperation und Wettbewerb (Kleinemeyer, 1997) was added;
- the definition of de facto standardization was modified, governmental standardization was added (Subsection 9.3.6).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
This even applies to the most complete standards classification available, offered by Baynard (1982), which offers a standard fingerprint covering nine different aspects. Other examples are the classifications presented by Bonino & Spring (1991), Cargill (1990), Coles (1949, pp. 115–117), David (1995a, pp. 211–217), and Le Lourd (1992, p.14).
When this was written, the author did not know that Kleinemeyer (1997, pp. 56–57) used the same example.
Gaillard (1933, p. 33) provides a rather complete list of possible entities.>
This also applies to the International Classification of Standards (ICS) (ISO, 1993), used by FSOs in their standards catalogues. ICS, moreover, concerns fields of activity rather than just entities; consequently, ICS mixes entities with the human use of them. Owing to these two factors, most standards have to be placed in two or more ICS categories.
Richtlinie 2222 Konstruktionsmethodik [Guideline 2222 Design Engineering Methodology] of the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure [Association of German Engineers] (1982 & 1996).
For instance, Kampmann, 1993, p. 47. For classic standards, Kampmann used the term basic standards.
Descriptive standards to a large extent coincide with the basic standards defined in EN 45020 (CEN/CENELEC, 1993, clause 5.1). The definition there, however, is not accurate enough. David (1987, p. 215) uses the term reference standards. Writing about standards in information and communication technology, he obviously had the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standards in mind. The OSI reference model is an internationally recognized design template for information technology. A set of international OSI standards has been developed, of which ISO 7498–1 (ISO/IEC 1994a) describes the basic reference model and the others provide requirements, to facilitate computer systems working together.
For instance, SI: Système Internationale d’unités [International System of Units].
For instance, the international standard ISO 7372 Trade data interchange — Trade Data Elements Directory (ISO, 1993c).
Ergonomic standardization, for instance, includes standards describing man’s characteristics and abilities, such as dimensions of the human body. These data are used in other standards (Schultetus, 1997).
The Agreement on Government Procurement (coming out of the Uruguay Round along with the World Trade Organization) advocates performance standards rather than standards that describe solutions (Schwamm, 1997, pp. 17–18). Companies and other stakeholders in standardization in general share this policy (for instance, the French NSO AFNOR (Le Lourd, 1992, p. 14)), but most developing countries prefer descriptive standards with a large number of technical details (Hesser & Inklaar, 1997a, p. 38). The percentage of performance standards is growing, at the expense of standards that prescribe certain solutions.
EMC = electromagnetic compatibility. These standards concern electrical disturbances.
Basic standards concerning people include data to be used for ergonomic requiring standards. Height requirements for pilots are an example of a requiring compatibility standard for people.
For instance, it is one of the three dimensions in the most often cited standards classification, the one developed by Verman (1973).
EAN (International Article Numbering Association) barcodes, for instance, were initially developed for the retail sector to be placed on consumer products, but have found their way to business-to business logistics too.
Example: American (national) ASTM standards are used in Europe; German DIN standards in the USA.
Example: the A and B series of paper sizes are laid down in international standards. In the North-American region, however, different sizes are used.
The Windows versions can be regarded as company standards of Microsoft.
For instance, a Scandinavian standard that provided a classification for technical aids for disabled persons got world-wide spread because of its adoption as international standard (ISO, 1992b).
English version in Hesser & Inklaar, 1997, pp. 39–45.>
According to Bouma (1989b), standardization is directed at matching the life cycles of entities having different speeds of change: infrastructure, which is rather stable in time, components, which are subject to rapid changes, and man in relation to these entities, who, in general, prefers a certain amount of stability (see Subsection 8.3.3).
Application of standardization in marketing is described by De Vries (1998b).
Source: Stokes (Ed.), 1986, p. 306 (cited by Stuurman, 1995, p. 27).
Bonino and Spring (1991, p. 102) describe this for the Information Technology Industry.
The term ‘product life cycle’ is also often used to indicate a product’s introduction, growth, maturity and decline stage. Seen from a company’s point of view, standardization can play different roles in different stages. An initial impetus to this is provided by Pries (1995, pp. 11–13).
This distinction is lacking in the standardization literature.
Standards implementations, of course, may remain while a standard has been replaced. Because of these implementations it may be necessary for a company to keep the old standards in stock, see Subsection 4.4.2.
Source: personal letter, 1995. Mr. C. Galinski is involved in the International Information Centre for Terminology (Infoterm) in Vienna and is chairman of ISO/TC 37 Terminology (principles and coordination).
In the European New Approach, for instance, voluntary standards are related to European Directives and, in practice, almost obligatory (see Subsection 2.2.5). Example: company A may use standard ISO 9001 on quality assurance as a benchmark in its quality management policy. Company B may be forced by its customers to meet the requirements set in this standard.>
Example: company A may use standard ISO 9001 on quality assurance as a benchmark in its quality management policy. Company B may be forced by its customers to meet the requirements set in this standard.
Governmental NSOs and voluntary standardization are not contradictory, as is demonstrated by, for instance, the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee (JISC), the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), and the Standards Council of Canada (SCC).
The dimensions of this typology are: 1) activity rhythm (seasonal fluctuations in production); 2) product complexity; 3) characterization of the added value; 4) production techniques; 5) production speed; 6) market and customer characteristics.
In practice, this classification resembles Simons’ classification mentioned in Subsection 9.2.3: compatibility standards are often business/marketing standards; interference standards are often regulatory standards; and general quality standards are often operational standards.
Standards and patents both describe a mostly technical solution. A standard, however, is intended to be used by all parties for which it is meant, whereas a patent is only used by the patent-holder and, via licenses, by third parties chosen by him, who usually have to pay for this use. Standards and patents have in common that they provide information to prevent reinventing the wheel.
Annex A Reference to patented items in ISO/IEC Directives Part 2 (ISO/IEC, 1992b, p. 17).
In ISO, IEC, CEN and CENELEC practice referring to patents in standards does not cause problems. Licences are offered on reasonable terms. In ETSI, however, problems have arisen. Especially in the field of telecommunication there often is a need to combine standards and patents (Simons & De Vries, 1997, p. 24–25). More information on standards and intellectual property rights is provided by, among others, Farrell (1989), Stuurman (1997, Chapter 8), and Weiss & Spring (1992).
These are ambiguously indicated in many current standards. Often the application field is missing. The Standards Engineering Society (SES, 1995, p. 7) advises distinguishing between scope, purpose, and application. ‘Application’ can be related to the above-mentioned intrinsic and extrinsic functions of standardization; ‘purpose’ to the subjective functions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1999 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
de Vries, H.J. (1999). Classification of Standards. In: Standardization: A Business Approach to the Role of National Standardization Organizations. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3042-5_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-3042-5_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-5103-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-3042-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive