Abstract :
Standardization, including simplification and specialization, is dealt with broadly, without entering too deeply into the pros and cons of standardization on any particular class of equipment, with a view to establishing a wider appreciation and understanding of its advantages, its disadvantages, the difficulties of its application in many cases, and the tremendous advances already made. Reference is made to the ¿Report of the Lemon Committee for Standardization of Engineering Products¿, and the Report of the Anglo-American Council on Productivity on ¿Simplification in Industry, ¿ and extracts in the form of Appendices of the conclusions and recommendations of both Reports are given. Emphasis is laid on the fact that standardization, and simplification, to be successful, must be a joint effort of the user and manufacturer. The paper then describes in some detail what has been achieved on standardization in the past and the many fields of investigation still open in the electrical industry, under the two main headings of ¿Within a Manufacturing Organization¿ and ¿As between Manufacturer and User.¿ The subject of dimensional standards is discussed and examples are given of typical products where interchangeability is important, and for which dimensional standards have been prepared or are being finalized.
