General principles
Standardisation may have one or more specific aims, to make a product, process or service fit for its purpose (the ability to perform an assigned task under certain conditions). Such aims could be, for example,
- compatibility – suitability of products, processes or services to be used together to fulfil the established requirements. Possibility to integrate a product into the system;
- interchangeability – ability of one product, process or service to be used in place of another to fulfil the same requirements;
- variety control – selection of the optimum number of sizes or types of products, processes or services to meet prevailing needs;
- safety – achieving the optimal balance of factors that will eliminate avoidable risks to an acceptable degree;
- protection of the environment – preservation of the environment from unacceptable damage from the effects and operations of products, processes and services;
- product protection – protection of a product against climatic or other adverse conditions during its use, transport or storage.
The aims of standardisation may partially overlap.
Six standardisation principles:
- involment of as many interested parties as possible,
- openness for participation of the standardisation process,
- transparency in each standard drafting stage,
- consensus between the interested parties in regards to the standard contents,
- timeliness and relevance of the content,
- availability of the standard.