Webster's New International Dictionary defines a "Specification" as "A written statement containing a minute description or enumeration of particulars. A written or printed description of work to be done, forming part of the contract and describing qualities of material and mode of construction, and also giving dimension and other information not shown in the drawings." A specification is a shorthand vehicle to converse quickly and accurately about materials and products. Many standardizing organizations, such as the American Standards Association, the American Society for Testing Materials, and others, have gone into the matter of standardizing specifications, and, hence, there are now a large number of standard specifications. Some of the specifications are becoming so definite as to be universally accepted. For example, cement is almost always bought under the standard specifications of the American Society for Testing Materials. Specifications are sometimes standardized by the Federal Government for use in its purchases. Federal Specifications, set up by the Procurement Division of the United States Treasury Department, are standard specifications. Specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, chiefly used by the automotive industry, may also be considered standard specifications. The following definitions of standardization, simplification, grades and grading, and standards for consumer goods have been selected as representative definitions of basic terms in the field of standards. Mr. Norman F. Harriman defines standardization and simplification as follows: "Standardization" may be defined as the unification of the methods, practices, and technique involved in the manufacture, construction, and use of materials, machines, and products, and in all lines of endeavor which present the necessity for performing repetition work. From the viewpoint of the buyer and vendor, it is the establishment of a criterion for the dimensions, quality, or performance of those materials, machines, and products. In its former aspects, it tends to assist scientific and engineering development and to prevent waste in manufacturing. In its latter aspect its purpose is principally to assist in promoting a common understanding between producer and user. Standardization primarily means the setting up of standards by which extent, quantity, quality, value, performance, or service, may be judged or determined. It is the crystallization of the best thought and practice of industry, business, or art into definite forms for general usage.' Standardization is generally applied to some individual article or some particular process, while simplification is commonly considered in connection with lines of products or methods of business procedure. "Simplification," or the elimination of excess types, grades, sizes, finishes, etc., of products, or superfluous or unnecessary methods, certainly results in standard products or practices. In other words, simplification is standardization by elimination rather than by selection. In either case, the result is the establishment of a standard. The term "simplification," frequently is more appealing than standardization of variety, as it sounds less formal.3 Dr. Jessie V. Coles thus defines grades and grading: Grading is the comparison of goods with standards and the resulting separation into groups possessing uniform qualities. The group is called the "grades," and the process of comparing with the standard and dividing is called "grading." The term "standardized grades" is used to designate grades which are exact and which are based on commonly known and recognized 2 "Standards and Standardization," by Norman F. Harriman, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.. New York City, p. 78, 1928. 3 Ibid., p. 117. standards. Although the use of some kind of standard is necessary to divide goods into grades, those grades which are not based on recognized standards are not usually termed "standardized grades." Sometimes a maximum standard is established with which goods are compared and rated. Strictly speaking, the resulting groups should be called ratings although they are usually designated as grades. Standards set up for the purpose of grading and rating goods may be based upon a single quality or upon several qualities. They may also be based on performances of goods. Combinations of qualities and performances, as those for size and durability, are also possible.* At the hearings on the Boren bill, H. R. 6652, before the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, January 22, 1940, Mrs. Harriet R. Howe presented on behalf of the American Home Economics Association the following statement relating to standards for consumer goods: By "standards for consumer goods" we mean a description of those of its qualities and characteristics important in consumer use, stated in terms of quantitative measurements, and understood alike by producers, distributors, and ultimate consumers. Consumers believe such standards are necessary because intelligent buying depends upon the ability to identify the relation between price and value of goods and services so that the individual is able to select those best adapted to his needs at a price he can afford to pay. Weights and measures are examples of existing standards that have the same meaning for both sellers and buyers and that have long been accepted as a practical necessity in commerce. Everyone recognizes that price has no meaning without knowledge of how much is offered at a given price. Consamers believe that price is equally meaningless without knowledge of what is being offered at a given price. Buyers are helpless in trying to compare the real value to them of two pairs of silk hosiery, two suits of clothes, or Two mechanical refrigerators at different prices when there is no way for them to make accurate comparisons between their quality and performance in use. A more detailed study of the nomenclature used in the field of standards appears in the appendix. The Consumer-Buyer and the Market," by Jessie V. Coles, p. 447, John Wiley & Sons. New York City, 1938. CHAPTER II STANDARDIZATION, INSPECTION, AND LABELING ACTIVITIES OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES The Federal Government, the largest single purchaser in the coun try, deals with standards and specifications for materials and equipment in performing its activities. The research and service bureaus. of the Government also are interested in many problems of standardization. The work of 46 Federal agencies concerned with standards, specifications, tests, and basic research leading to or affecting standards was studied for the purpose of this monograph. A detailed description of the standardization, inspection, and labeling activities of the Federal agencies presented in this study is supplemented by charts indicating the procedure used in establishing standards. In analyzing the results of the study, the activities of the Federal Government in the field of standardization were subdivided into the following 10 groups: 1. Agencies establishing standards which may be used by others. 2. Agencies establishing standards for their own use in carrying out their activities. 3. Agencies establishing standards for their own specific use in approving loans, insuring private loans, or advancing money for improvements. 4. Agencies whose research or operations aid or provide a basis for establishment of standards. 5. Agencies whose duties are to assure that commodities sold or shipped in interstate commerce meet certain established standards. 6. Agencies using standards established by other agencies in carrying out their activities. 7. Agencies maintaining a grading or inspection service in performing their activities. 8. Agencies inspecting or testing supplies or equipment to assure their conformity to applicable standards used in purchases, loans, insurance, or other activities. 9. Agencies developing or establishing test methods which may be used by others. 10. Agencies furthering the use of standards established by them. or by other agencies. The activities of many of the Federal agencies analyzed fall into several different groups. In order to illustrate graphically the distribution of these activities in the field of standardization chart I was prepared. 5 272496-41-No. 24 |