Standards and standards organizations

Abstract

It does not take much imagination to realize that if there were no standardized test methods, trade would be severely impaired, progress would be stunted and chaos would ensue. Fortunately, technologists appear to have a strong sense of order and from the early days of the industry have supported the development of standard procedures and the use of these in product specifications; not that the effort put in should make us complacent, as there is still plenty of room for confusion of the unwary. Because of increased demand for product reliability and fears of liability legislation standards have become even more important today. The British Government, amongst others, has expressed its commitment to standards and there has been much discussion of the role of standards in industrial strategy in the UK. Nevertheless, in the highly competitive economic conditions of recent times, standardization has not received the funding nor the priority which it really merits.