The task force, responsible for standardization must follow procedure to get the items standardized. They should get all relevant facts from the concerned executive. They should develop standards which are easy to understand and to implement. There should be a constant reviewing, updating and monitoring committee so that best benefits accrue to the company. The process of standardization can be conceived on a three dimensional plane. To include factors such as levels, aspect, subject and there interrelation .
the level includes individual, departments, company, industry, nation, international, and universe. While the aspects may include forms, ethics, code of conducts procedures, contracts, inspection, testing sampling, agreements or reporting, notes etc. The third dimension, namely the subjects, encompasses industry, education, agriculture, communication, transport, mining, trade, commerce, energy, family planning, construction and administration.
The standardization process may take the form of a document containing a set of conditions to be fulfilled, a fundamental unit or physical constant or an object for physical comparison. The apex body of standards in Kenya is the Kenya bureau of standards (KeBS).
At international level, international standard organization is based in Geneva.
Items to be standardized
The warehouse and inventory manager should involve executives from design, maintenance, inspections, operations and costing department in order to ensure that the recommended standards are implemented. This team should update its knowledge on the latest available technological development to effectively implement the process of standardization. If the standard is approved as
a company standard, the standard department should make necessary reproduction and distribute copies as mandatory to all concerned.
We have the kilogram as standard of weight, meters as the standard of length. Keeping to the right as the standard of the road, motors are made only in certain ratings, bulbs only in specific voltages, etc. Procedures, formats, reporting system, sampling inspections plans, letter heads, operating manual, standard costing method, etc. are the examples one comes across in the field of standardization. It is advantageous to tackle non critical high value, easily available item for standardization, as otherwise there will be opposition from design department. MRO-maintenance, repair and operation items like fasteners, hardware items, maintenance, etc. are a good starting point to impose standardization.
