Standardization
Standardization
Standardization (pronunciation: /ˌstandərdəˈzāSH(ə)n/) is a process that involves establishing and applying rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at achieving the optimum degree of order in a given context.
Etymology
The term "standardization" is derived from the word "standard", which has its roots in the Old French estendard meaning "a rallying place". The term was later adopted in English in the 12th century to mean "an authoritative or recognized exemplar of quality or correctness".
Related Terms
- Quality Control: A process by which entities review the quality of all factors involved in production.
- Benchmarking: The practice of comparing business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and best practices from other companies.
- Regulation: A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.
- Accreditation: The process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.
- Certification: The formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization.
Process
Standardization can occur through formal or informal methods. In formal standardization, an industry or government body outlines specific guidelines that a product, service, or process must meet. Informal standardization occurs when businesses independently adjust their practices to match what is accepted or expected within their industry.
Importance
Standardization can help to maximize compatibility, interoperability, safety, repeatability, or quality. It can also facilitate commoditization of formerly custom processes. In social sciences, including economics, the idea of standardization is close to the solution for a coordination problem, a situation in which all parties can realize mutual gains, but only by making mutually consistent decisions.
See Also
- International Organization for Standardization
- Standard (disambiguation)
- Standardization (disambiguation)
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Standardization
- Wikipedia's article - Standardization
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski