Editing Standardization (section)

==Usage==
Standards can be:
* [[de facto standard]]s which means they are followed by informal convention or dominant usage.
* [[de jure]] standards which are part of legally binding contracts, laws or regulations.
* Voluntary standards which are published and available for people to consider for use.

The existence of a published standard does not necessarily imply that it is useful or correct. Just because an item is stamped with a standard number does not, by itself, indicate that the item is fit for any particular use. The people who use the item or service (engineers, trade unions, etc.) or specify it (building codes, government, industry, etc.) have the responsibility to consider the available standards, specify the correct one, enforce compliance, and use the item correctly: [[validation and verification]].

To avoid the proliferation of industry standards, also referred to as [[technical standard|private standards]], regulators in the United States are instructed by their government offices to adopt "voluntary consensus standards" before relying upon "industry standards" or developing "government standards".<ref>{{cite web |title=Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Circular-119-1.pdf |website=[[White House]] |publisher=United States Office of Management and Budget |access-date=2021-10-02 |archive-date=2017-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219144113/https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Circular-119-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Regulatory authorities can reference voluntary consensus standards to translate internationally accepted criteria into [[public policy]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Using and referencing ISO and IEC standards to support public policy |date=2015 |publisher=ISO |location=Geneva, Switzerland |isbn=978-92-67-10633-5 |url=https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100358.html |access-date=2021-10-02 |archive-date=2021-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002213638/https://www.iso.org/publication/PUB100358.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=International standards and private standards |date=2010 |publisher=International Organization for Standardization |isbn=978-92-67-10518-5 |url=https://docplayer.net/23885374-International-standards-and-private-standards.html |access-date=2021-10-03 |archive-date=2021-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006133214/https://docplayer.net/23885374-International-standards-and-private-standards.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Information exchange===
In the context of [[information exchange]], standardization refers to the process of developing standards for specific business processes using specific [[formal language]]s. These standards are usually developed in voluntary consensus standards bodies such as the United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business ([[UN/CEFACT]]), the World Wide Web Consortium ([[W3C]]), the [[Telecommunications Industry Association]] (TIA), and the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards ([[OASIS (organization)|OASIS]]).

There are many [[specification]]s that govern the operation and interaction of devices and software on the [[Internet]], which do not use the term "standard" in their names. The [[W3C]], for example, publishes "Recommendations", and the [[IETF]] publishes "[[Request for Comments|Requests for Comments]]" (RFCs). Nevertheless, these publications are often referred to as "standards", because they are the products of regular standardization processes.

===Environmental protection===
{{See also|Import|Eco-tariff|Subsidy|Environmental impact assessment|#Ergonomics, workplace and health|Air quality index}}
[[Sustainability standards and certification|Standardized product certifications]] such as of [[organic food]], [[green building|buildings]] or [[Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification|possibly sustainable seafood]] as well as standardized product safety evaluation and dis/approval procedures (e.g. [[regulation of chemicals]], [[Ingredients of cosmetics#Regulation|cosmetics]] and [[food safety]]) can protect the environment.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Milder |first1=Jeffrey C. |last2=Arbuthnot |first2=Margaret |last3=Blackman |first3=Allen |last4=Brooks |first4=Sharon E. |last5=Giovannucci |first5=Daniele |last6=Gross |first6=Lee |last7=Kennedy |first7=Elizabeth T. |last8=Komives |first8=Kristin |last9=Lambin |first9=Eric F. |last10=Lee |first10=Audrey |last11=Meyer |first11=Daniel |last12=Newton |first12=Peter |last13=Phalan |first13=Ben |last14=Schroth |first14=Götz |last15=Semroc |first15=Bambi |last16=Rikxoort |first16=Henk Van |last17=Zrust |first17=Michal |title=An agenda for assessing and improving conservation impacts of sustainability standards in tropical agriculture |journal=Conservation Biology |date=2015 |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=309–320 |doi=10.1111/cobi.12411 |pmid=25363833 |bibcode=2015ConBi..29..309M |hdl=2027.42/110892 |s2cid=31054459 |language=es |issn=1523-1739|hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tayleur |first1=Catherine |last2=Balmford |first2=Andrew |last3=Buchanan |first3=Graeme M. |last4=Butchart |first4=Stuart H. M. |last5=Ducharme |first5=Heather |last6=Green |first6=Rhys E. |last7=Milder |first7=Jeffrey C. |last8=Sanderson |first8=Fiona J. |last9=Thomas |first9=David H. L. |last10=Vickery |first10=Juliet |last11=Phalan |first11=Ben |title=Global Coverage of Agricultural Sustainability Standards, and Their Role in Conserving Biodiversity |journal=Conservation Letters |date=2017 |volume=10 |issue=5 |pages=610–618 |doi=10.1111/conl.12314 |bibcode=2017ConL...10..610T |s2cid=88591488 |language=en |issn=1755-263X|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Schmitz-Hoffmann |first1=Carsten |last2=Hansmann |first2=Berthold |last3=Klose |first3=Sophie |title=Voluntary Standard Systems |chapter=Voluntary Sustainability Standards: Measuring Their Impact |series=Natural Resource Management in Transition |date=2014 |volume=1 |pages=133–143 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-35716-9_9 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-3-642-35715-2 |language=en}}</ref> This effect may depend on associated modified [[consumer choice]]s, strategic product support/obstruction, requirements and bans as well as their accordance with a scientific basis, the robustness and applicability of a scientific basis, whether adoption of the certifications is voluntary, and the socioeconomic context (systems of [[governance]] and the [[economic system|economy]]), with possibly most certifications being so far mostly largely ineffective.<ref>{{cite web |title=Destruction: Certified |url=https://www.greenpeace.org/international/publication/46812/destruction-certified/ |website=Greenpeace International |access-date=25 October 2021 |language=en |archive-date=22 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022100615/https://www.greenpeace.org/international/publication/46812/destruction-certified/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Moreover, standardized scientific frameworks can enable evaluation of levels of [[environmental protection]], such as of [[marine protected area]]s, and serve as, potentially evolving, guides for improving, planning and monitoring the protection-quality, -scopes and -extents.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Grorud-Colvert |first1=Kirsten |last2=Sullivan-Stack |first2=Jenna |last3=Roberts |first3=Callum |last4=Constant |first4=Vanessa |last5=Horta e Costa |first5=Barbara |last6=Pike |first6=Elizabeth P. |last7=Kingston |first7=Naomi |last8=Laffoley |first8=Dan |last9=Sala |first9=Enric |last10=Claudet |first10=Joachim |last11=Friedlander |first11=Alan M. |last12=Gill |first12=David A. |last13=Lester |first13=Sarah E. |last14=Day |first14=Jon C. |last15=Gonçalves |first15=Emanuel J. |last16=Ahmadia |first16=Gabby N. |last17=Rand |first17=Matt |last18=Villagomez |first18=Angelo |last19=Ban |first19=Natalie C. |last20=Gurney |first20=Georgina G. |last21=Spalding |first21=Ana K. |last22=Bennett |first22=Nathan J. |last23=Briggs |first23=Johnny |last24=Morgan |first24=Lance E. |last25=Moffitt |first25=Russell |last26=Deguignet |first26=Marine |last27=Pikitch |first27=Ellen K. |last28=Darling |first28=Emily S. |last29=Jessen |first29=Sabine |last30=Hameed |first30=Sarah O. |last31=Di Carlo |first31=Giuseppe |last32=Guidetti |first32=Paolo |last33=Harris |first33=Jean M. |last34=Torre |first34=Jorge |last35=Kizilkaya |first35=Zafer |last36=Agardy |first36=Tundi |last37=Cury |first37=Philippe |last38=Shah |first38=Nirmal J. |last39=Sack |first39=Karen |last40=Cao |first40=Ling |last41=Fernandez |first41=Miriam |last42=Lubchenco |first42=Jane |title=The MPA Guide: A framework to achieve global goals for the ocean |journal=Science |year=2021 |volume=373 |issue=6560 |pages=eabf0861 |doi=10.1126/science.abf0861|pmid=34516798 |s2cid=237473020 |url=https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00723/83464/88455.pdf }}</ref> 

Moreover, technical standards could decrease [[electronic waste]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Apple opposes EU plans to make common charger port for all devices |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/apple-opposes-eu-plans-to-make-common-charger-port-for-all-devices |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=23 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=18 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018140109/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/23/apple-opposes-eu-plans-to-make-common-charger-port-for-all-devices |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Peltier |first1=Elian |title=In a setback for Apple, the European Union seeks a common charger for all phones. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/business/european-union-apple-charging-port.html |access-date=19 October 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=23 September 2021 |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910202629/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/23/business/european-union-apple-charging-port.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=One common charging solution for all |url=https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/electrical-engineering/red-directive/common-charger_en |website=Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs - European Commission |access-date=19 October 2021 |language=en |date=5 July 2016 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019205753/https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/electrical-engineering/red-directive/common-charger_en |url-status=live }}</ref> and reduce resource-needs such as by thereby requiring (or enabling) products to be [[interoperability|interoperable]], compatible (with other products, infrastructures, environments, etc), [[sustainable design|durable]], [[energy efficiency (physics)|energy-efficient]], [[modularity|modular]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Schischke |first1=Karsten |last2=Proske |first2=Marina |last3=Nissen |first3=Nils F. |last4=Lang |first4=Klaus-Dieter |title=2016 Electronics Goes Green 2016+ (EGG) |chapter=Modular products: Smartphone design from a circular economy perspective |date=September 2016 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.1109/EGG.2016.7829810 |s2cid=23852368 |chapter-url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7829810}}</ref> [[upgradeability|upgradeable]]/[[repairability|repairable]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Want to save the Earth? Then don't buy that shiny new iPhone {{!}} John Naughton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/18/want-to-save-the-earth-then-dont-buy-that-shiny-new-iphone |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 October 2021 |language=en |date=18 September 2021}}</ref> and [[recyclability|recyclable]] and conform to versatile, optimal standards and protocols.

Such standardization is not limited to the domain of electronic devices like smartphones and phone chargers but could also be applied to e.g. the energy infrastructure. [[Policy making|Policy-makers could develop]] policies "fostering standard design and interfaces, and promoting the re-use of modules and components across plants to develop more sustainable [[energy infrastructure]]".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mignacca |first1=Benito |last2=Locatelli |first2=Giorgio |last3=Velenturf |first3=Anne |title=Modularisation as enabler of circular economy in energy infrastructure |journal=Energy Policy |date=1 April 2020 |volume=139 |pages=111371 |doi=10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111371 |s2cid=213705461 |language=en |issn=0301-4215|doi-access=free |bibcode=2020EnPol.13911371M |hdl=11311/1204921 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Computers and the Internet are some of the tools that could be used to increase practicability and reduce suboptimal results, detrimental standards and [[bureaucracy]], which is often associated with traditional processes and results of standardization.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ho |first1=Alfred Tat-Kei |title=Reinventing Local Governments and the E-Government Initiative |journal=Public Administration Review |date=2002 |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=434–444 |doi=10.1111/0033-3352.00197 |language=en |issn=1540-6210}}</ref> Taxes and subsidies, and funding of research and development could be used complementarily.<ref>{{cite web |title=Circular by design – Products in the circular economy |url=https://circulareconomy.europa.eu/platform/sites/default/files/circular_by_design_-_products_in_the_circular_economy.pdf |access-date=27 October 2021}}</ref> Standardized measurement is used in monitoring, reporting and verification frameworks of environmental impacts, usually of companies, for example to prevent underreporting of greenhouse gas emissions by firms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Downar |first1=Benedikt |last2=Ernstberger |first2=Jürgen |last3=Reichelstein |first3=Stefan |last4=Schwenen |first4=Sebastian |last5=Zaklan |first5=Aleksandar |title=The impact of carbon disclosure mandates on emissions and financial operating performance |journal=Review of Accounting Studies |date=1 September 2021 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=1137–1175 |doi=10.1007/s11142-021-09611-x |s2cid=220061770 |language=en |issn=1573-7136|doi-access=free |hdl=10419/266352 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

===Product testing and analysis===
{{Further|Product information|Life-cycle assessment|#Ergonomics, workplace and health|Advertising#Criticisms}}
In routine [[product testing]] and [[product analysis]] results can be reported using official or informal standards. It can be done to increase [[consumer protection]], to ensure safety or healthiness or efficiency or performance or sustainability of products. It can be carried out by the manufacturer, an independent laboratory, a government agency, a magazine or others on a voluntary or commissioned/mandated basis.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kleinschmidt |first1=Christian |title=Comparative Consumer Product Testing in Germany |journal=Business History Review |date=2010 |volume=84 |issue=1 |pages=105–124 |doi=10.1017/S0007680500001264 |s2cid=154453481 |language=en |issn=2044-768X}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Plambeck |first1=Erica L.|author1-link=Erica Plambeck |last2=Taylor |first2=Terry A. |title=Testing by Competitors in Enforcement of Product Standards |journal=Management Science |date=1 April 2019 |volume=65 |issue=4 |pages=1735–1751 |doi=10.1287/mnsc.2017.3023 |s2cid=10756041 |issn=0025-1909|url=http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/37h1p0b3 }}</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=October 2021}}

Estimating the [[sustainable food system|environmental impacts of food products]] in a standardized way – as has been done with [[Life-cycle assessment#LCA dataset creation|a dataset]] of >57,000 food [[Product (business)|products]] in supermarkets – could e.g. be used to inform consumers or in [[policy]].<ref>{{cite news |title=These are the UK supermarket items with the worst environmental impact |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2332392-these-are-the-uk-supermarket-items-with-the-worst-environmental-impact/ |access-date=14 September 2022 |work=New Scientist}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=Michael |last2=Springmann |first2=Marco |last3=Rayner |first3=Mike |last4=Scarborough |first4=Peter |last5=Hill |first5=Jason |last6=Tilman |first6=David |last7=Macdiarmid |first7=Jennie I. |last8=Fanzo |first8=Jessica |last9=Bandy |first9=Lauren |last10=Harrington |first10=Richard A. |title=Estimating the environmental impacts of 57,000 food products |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |date=16 August 2022 |volume=119 |issue=33 |pages=e2120584119 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2120584119 |pmid=35939701 |pmc=9388151 |bibcode=2022PNAS..11920584C |language=en |issn=0027-8424|doi-access=free}}</ref> For example, such may be useful for approaches using [[personal carbon allowance]]s (or similar quota) or for [[Externality#Scientific calculation of external costs|targeted alteration of (ultimate overall) costs]].

===Safety===
{{Further|Safety standards}}
{{See also|Workplace safety standards}}
====Public information symbols====
{{See also|ISO 7010}}
Public information [[symbol]]s (e.g. [[hazard symbol]]s), especially when related to safety, are often standardized, sometimes [[International standard|on the international level]].<ref name="10.1007/978-3-319-60582-1">{{cite book |title=Advances in Ergonomics in Design: Proceedings of the AHFE 2017 International Conference on Ergonomics in Design, July 17−21, 2017, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA |series=Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing |date=2018 |volume=588 |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-60582-1|isbn=978-3-319-60581-4 |last1=Rebelo |first1=Francisco |last2=Soares |first2=Marcelo }}</ref>

====Biosafety====
{{Further|Biosafety}}
Standardization is also used to ensure safe design and operation of laboratories and similar potentially dangerous workplaces, e.g. to ensure [[biosafety level]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=LABORATORY BIOSAFETY MANUAL |url=https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/Labbiosafety.pdf |publisher=WHO |access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref> There is research into microbiology safety standards used in clinical and research laboratories.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Emmert |first1=Elizabeth A. B. |title=Biosafety Guidelines for Handling Microorganisms in the Teaching Laboratory: Development and Rationale |journal=Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |year=2013 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=78–83 |doi=10.1128/jmbe.v14i1.531|pmid=23858356 | pmc=3706168}}</ref>

====Defense====
In the context of defense, standardization has been defined by [[NATO]] as ''The development and implementation of concepts, doctrines, procedures and designs to achieve and maintain the required levels of [[:wikt:compatibility|compatibility]], [[interchangeable parts|interchangeability]] or [[commonality]] in the operational, procedural, material, technical and administrative fields to attain interoperability.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebolingroup.com/procurementpower/presentations/Moreno_JuanA.pdf|page=11|title=Interoperability and Standardization within NATO|date=8 April 2009|last=Moreno|first=Juan A.|access-date=23 January 2014|work=NATO Standards Agency|publisher=thebolingroup.com|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202194852/http://www.thebolingroup.com/procurementpower/presentations/Moreno_JuanA.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Ergonomics, workplace and health===
{{See also|Nutrient profiling|Cosmetics#Safety|Regulation of chemicals#Issues|Consumer protection|Living standard}}
In some cases, standards are being used in the design and operation of [[workplace]]s and products that can impact consumers' health. Some of such standards seek to ensure [[occupational safety and health]] and [[ergonomics]]. For example, [[chair]]s<ref name="10.1007/978-3-319-60582-1"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Helander |first1=Martin G. |last2=Czaja |first2=Sara J. |last3=Drury |first3=Colin G. |last4=Cary |first4=James M. |last5=Burri |first5=George |title=An Ergonomic Evaluation of Office Chairs |journal=Office Technology and People |date=1 January 1987 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=247–263 |doi=10.1108/eb022651 |issn=0167-5710}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tirloni |first1=Adriana Seára |last2=Reis |first2=Diogo Cunha dos |last3=Bornia |first3=Antonio Cezar |last4=Andrade |first4=Dalton Francisco de |last5=Borgatto |first5=Adriano Ferreti |last6=Moro |first6=Antônio Renato Pereira |title=Development and validation of instrument for ergonomic evaluation of tablet arm chairs |journal=EXCLI Journal |date=2016 |volume=15 |pages=671–686 |pmid=28337099|doi=10.17179/excli2016-568 |doi-access=free |pmc=5318684 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Applied Anthropometrics in School Furniture Design: Which Criteria Should be Used for Standardization? |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274136412 |via=ResearchGate |journal=Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics |date= June 2014 |first1=Ignacio |last1=Castellucci |first2=Pedro |last2=Arezes |first3=Johan |last3=Molenbroek  }}</ref> (see e.g. [[active sitting]] and [[Research#Steps in conducting research|steps of research]]) could be potentially be designed and chosen using standards that may or may not be based on adequate scientific data. Standards could reduce the variety of products and lead to convergence on fewer broad designs – which can often be efficiently mass-produced via common shared automated procedures and instruments – or formulations deemed to be the most healthy, most efficient or best compromise between healthiness and other factors. Standardization is sometimes or could also be used to ensure or increase or enable consumer health protection beyond the workplace and ergonomics such as standards in food, food production, hygiene products, tab water, cosmetics, drugs/medicine,<ref>{{cite web |title=Center for Drug Evaluation and Research – Drug Quality Sampling and Testing Programs |url=https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/drug-quality-sampling-and-testing-programs |website=FDA |access-date=28 October 2021 |language=en |date=3 February 2021 |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028110631/https://www.fda.gov/drugs/science-and-research-drugs/drug-quality-sampling-and-testing-programs |url-status=dead }}</ref> drink and dietary supplements,<ref>{{cite web |title=Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 |url=https://ods.od.nih.gov/About/dshea_wording.aspx |website=Office of Dietary Supplements |access-date=28 October 2021 |language=en |archive-date=6 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106175957/https://ods.od.nih.gov/About/DSHEA_Wording.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dietary Supplements & Herbal Medicines |url=https://www.usp.org/dietary-supplements-herbal-medicines |website=USP |access-date=28 October 2021 |language=en |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028110622/https://www.usp.org/dietary-supplements-herbal-medicines |url-status=live }}</ref> especially in cases where there is robust scientific data that suggests detrimental impacts on health (e.g. of ingredients) despite being substitutable and not necessarily of consumer interest.{{additional citations needed|date=October 2021}}

===Clothing===
{{Further|Clothing sizes}}

==== Clinical assessment ====
In the context of assessment, standardization may define how a measuring instrument or procedure is similar to every subjects or patients.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Essentials of educational psychology : big ideas to guide effective teaching|last1=Ormrod |first1=Jeanne Ellis|last2=Jones |first2=Brett D. |year=2018|isbn=9780134894980|edition=Fifth|location=NY, NY|oclc=959080826 |publisher=Pearson }}</ref>{{Rp|399}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Essentials of abnormal psychology.|last=Durand, V. Mark.|date=2015|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1305633681 |oclc=884617637}}</ref>{{Rp|71}} For example, educational psychologist may adopt [[structured interview]] to systematically interview the people in concern. By delivering the same procedures, all subjects is evaluated using same criteria and minimising any [[Confounding|confounding variable]] that reduce the [[Validity (statistics)|validity]].<ref name=":0" />{{Rp|72}} Some other example includes [[mental status examination]] and [[personality test]].

===Social science===
In the context of social criticism and [[social science]], standardization often means the process of establishing standards of various kinds and improving efficiency to handle people, their interactions, cases, and so forth. Examples include formalization of judicial procedure in court, and establishing uniform criteria for diagnosing mental disease. Standardization in this sense is often discussed along with (or synonymously to) such large-scale social changes as modernization, bureaucratization, homogenization, and centralization of society.

===Customer service===
In the context of [[customer service]], standardization refers to the process of developing an international standard that enables organizations to focus on customer service, while at the same time providing recognition of success{{clarify|date=August 2016}} through a third party organization, such as the [[British Standards Institution]]. An international standard has been developed by [[The International Customer Service Institute]].

===Supply and materials management===
{{See also|Supply chain sustainability}}
In the context of [[supply chain management]] and [[materials management]], standardization covers the process of specification and use of any item the company must buy in or make, allowable substitutions, and [[build or buy]] decisions.