A WORLD-WIDE PROBLEM.

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 137, 7 December 1926, Page 10

A WORLD-WIDE PROBLEM.

A cable message from London at the beginning of last month announced the fact that the Economic Sub-Committee of the Imperial Conference had completed a most comprehensive survey of industrial sjandardisation. Significant facts and figures revealed enormous benefits to be derived from industrial standardisation, and later on Mr. Bruce waxed eloquent over what Australia had accomplished in this direction. Dr. E. Marsden, upon hia return this week from Australia, where for the last month ho has been investigating the workings of the Scientific and Industrial Research Council, remarked that the most striking thing that he came across In the Commonwealth was the excellent work of the Standards Association, "It liad well justified,' 3 he said, "the

pride shown in it by Mr. Bruce."

Standardisation as applied to manufacturing industries may be defined as the reduction of the number of variable factors to a minimum, with the object of according to each factor the largest possible share of . consideration and capital outlay. In other words, the object is to spread the cost of design, manufacturing facilities, and equipment over, the greatest possible number of pieces of a given type in order to reduce the charge on each. Standard specifications mean in the broadest sense national simplification— the reduction of the number of types and patterns used for any given article. It is a mistake, said Dr. Marsden, to think that the term standardisation means crystallisation or the setting up of an unalterable standard; too much stress cannot be laid upon the fact that industrial standardisation moans noth-

ing of the sort.

THE WAR AND STANDARDS,

As far back as 1841 Sir Joseph Whitworth brought forward a scheme for the introduction of standard screw threads for nuts and bolts, but very little progress in standardisation was made in Britain until the period of the Great "War. Then the Government gave the matter serious consideration, and introduced standard ships and standard houses. During and since tho war standardisation has also been fostered by the large machine tool builders, so that firms which before the war were general machine tool makers are to-day specialising in. one series, or in one type of machine, and in some cases even in one size of <me type only. Pressure from foreign competition has caused standardisation to make some headway in England, but the national temperament is against it. The Germans, on the other hand, standardise because it is instinctive. The American standardises because he can produce to fill a huge pote tial market. If he can make a thing cheaply by this means, he adopts the principles of ■ standardisation regardless of other factors. Active organisation for the determination of engineering standards now exist in most of tho chief countries of the world. It has been taken up imperially by countries within the Bz'itish Empire, including Canada, Irfdia, an^ Australia. So highly is tho work of standardisation in Australia thought of in England, that the latter country has at times sent tentative standard specifications to Australia for comment before final adoption.

Thoso countries which aro advanced in national industrial standardisation are establishing a great commercial ascendancy over those that aro not so organised. To a smaller extent than some countries, but none the less vitally, New Zealand is concerned in the question of standardisation, its mnnufaeturiug industries are in a state of development, and what their future will be tlepon.ds very largely on the methods adopted during the adolescent stage. New countries have advantages over old ones, particularly in that they arc aware of the mistakes that have been made in the past, and profiting,by past experiences, they are able to avoid the repetition of such jjrrors.

MANY ADVANTAGES,

Prom the producers' standpoint the chief advantages of standardisation are increased output and reduced cost of production. -From the consumers' standpoint there is a better article at less cost. The value of mass production needs no stressing: it was well demonstrated during the war. As it means more production at a lower cost it must be welcomed with open arms. Standardisation involves the reduction of the number of types of produce and therefore the elimination of indecision in both production and utilisation, and that means easier competition with foreign manufacturers.

Standardisation is one of the principal means of getting the results of research g,nd ■ development into actual use in industries. By bringing out new facts in order to determine what is best, and to obtain agroement on most questions, standardisation acts as a powerful stimulus to research and development. It eliminates 'practices which are merely the result of accident or tradition, and which may impede development. But one of tho most important aspects of standardisation is that it puts all tenders on an easily comparable basis, providing a truly competitive' market in whic'fi to buy material and equipment. Controversies as to whether the product is in accord with the sample are eliminated by standardisation, which also gives accurate definitions so that one is enabled to know what he is talking about, what he is buying, and whether ho is getting what he is buying.

Standardisation cannot bp left to tho individual manufacturer, nor can it be attained by one section of the community endeavouring to oppose its conditions upon another section. Compulsory legislation will not meet the case, and satisfactory results can only be achieved by tho co-operation of all interests. In fact, standardisation has recently been defined as "merely getting together and agreeing."

WHAT AUSTRALIA HAS DONE.

Since its inception in 1922 the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Btandards Association has accomplished work which Dr. Marsden describes as phenomenal. It has issued 43 standard specifications; has approved of 41 more, tnd lias a further 82 in hand. It has about 150 committees at work and is supported by Government subsidy, both Commonwealth and State. All its specifications are issued, first in a tentative form for 12 months. During this period constructive criticism is invited, and any offered is given full consideration in tho revision of the draft specifications before adoption as an Australian standard specification. Among tho things dealt with fit the last meeting were gas cylinders, lead paints, lubricants, paints, varnishes, concrete, and cement. It is of interest to New Zealand to know that the electrical standard adopted is the same as that in use here, namely 50 cycles at 230 volts.

A HUGE SAVING.

Standardisation lias already conferred great benefit upon Australian industries. Its value to the Empire nmy be gauged from tho figures given by the Economic Sub-committeo of the Imperial Conference. By reducing from several hundreds to 113 the categories of iro3i or steel products ;:hc

cost of production would bo lowered by 5s a ton. It was also stated that £25,000,000 is investod in wholesale ironmongery, and that even a moderate degree of simplification and standardisation would liberate one-fifth of the capital at present locked up in that business. Similarly, £4,000,000, the present value of the Empire stocks of electric lamps, might bo halved by standardisation.