STANDARD PARTS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 13 April 1929, Page 26

STANDARD PARTS

NECESSITY TO TRADE

BRITAIN'S PROGRESS

That standardisation is' a distinct benefit:to any industry is a matter of no possible doubt, but it-is, perhaps, • unfortunate that the term applied to the process ia not more apt. "Standardisation "^conjures up a mental vision of consignments precisely alike in. their monotony, lacking in individuality, and restricting initiative in design and construction. It ia, indeed, this latter possibility that has, in the past, . so often militated against the nior.e ready adoption oi! the principle of standardisation in its wider sense. The result has been that manufacturers have been hampered in their production programmes by the necessity of producing a wide range of components when by a process of-consultation and co-opera-tion, certain variations in parts involving in some instances operations which ' are,: strictly speaking, unnecessary, could havo been deleted with ultimate benefit to themselves and to their customers/ . ' ' :';

Tho purpose of standardisation is to secure a measure of interchangeability in the products of various manufacturers, concentrating on the idea of ensuring; a final range ,which, while as comprehensive as demand may warrant, shall, at the same time, co-ordinate production. ,Thus, as an example, while .an architect may preserve individuality.! in -his work, the house which he-plans'may be constructed of materials similar in every way to its immodiate neighbours, and haying certain identical, fittings. , Similarly in automobile work, the fact that a chassis. constructed by one manufacturer has certain fittings identical with those used in'the car of another manufacturer does not prejudice either model. Possibly, in all the circumstances, a better term than '' standardisation is "simplification.'? THE WHITWORTH THREAD. One of the -most striking examples of the benefit which has accrued from standardisation is to be found, in* the engineering industry in consequence of, the universal adoption of the Whitworth form of screw threads; - Many other similar instances could be cited. It i may bo mentioned as an example that'the adoption by the railway companies of a standard gauge track has made possible a system of interrunning between them with extensive benefit to the public for which they cater. In another field reference may also be made to the results achieved in structural engineering. .. ■

With the rapid growth of the automobile, industry, manufacturers concerned have become increasingly appreciative of the benefits which standardisa^ tion is able to'afford to them.

It has become apparent to them unii by its means manufacturing and survice^costs can be substantially reduced, resulting, as. it does, in its becoming no longer necessary for the provision of an unnecessary -variety of plant and tool equipment /which, while expensive, may subsequently be found to be almost in toe nature of an unproductive liability. In order that the users of their ■products may be assured of the acme of satisfaction, it follows that the .responsibility of the manufacturer does. not; entirely cease with the completion of • the sale of his vehicle, and itbecomes his concern to see .that there is in existence an efficient means of satisfying the later requirements of his customers in the matter of service. In this latter connection standardisation again comes to his assistance, for, by its means, the intermediary between the manufacturer and the user is encouraged to stock against an assured demand. That this "was not always so, many: early motorists know only tbo well, for instances havd not been lacking in which an essential component having failed the owner .has "been stranded owing to the fact that thero was either no replacement available, or such part as .could be found was not of the same essential dimensions as the one which it was required to replace. X IMPORTANCE OVERSEAS.

Important as standardisation is in Great 1 Britain, it assumes even more importance in its application overseas. Omitting every other consideration, the question of service; is alone of -almost sufficient, importance to justify : the adoption of standardisation in respect of overseaa models,, for, however- com- ; plcte may be the arrangements-provid-ed by manufacturers,and their repre- t sentatives in this .respect; the position is.likely to arise where, unless an alternative fitment is available, much inconvenience is likely to accrue to the vehicle owner. It may also be claimed that it is to no little extent due to the adherence to standardisation by British manufacturers that they are now able' to compete in overseas markets on a scale comparable to that of their competitors. . - * The standards department of'the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Ltd., has been instrumental in securing cooperation and agreement between; British; manufacturers on ;,a considerable-number of subjects, with the result that'during the comparative- 1 ly short time in which it has beenin existence some fifty automobile standards have been'published. These are the result of deliberations by the technical representatives of tho manufacturers concerned, and in such cases where the subject matter-relates o,nly to the automobile industry the proposals are issued as provisional standards through tho data sheets of the Institution of Automobile Engirieersl•■'

. It .will, of course,: bo recalled that there aro other subjects, as, for example, the question of steels, in which the automobile industry, though vitally interested, is not the only body concerned, and while the results of the deliberations of the society's technical committees in such cases are dealt with in a.similar manner, the confirmation by tie British Engineering Standards Association is followed by the issue by that body of a report which constitutes a British standard. Similarly, any. proposals which the British Engineering Standards Association may havo under eonside»#tion whwh/aro of conqerc to autorhobile industry are submitted to the society for its consideration. TULL PUBLICITY. , Reverting to the provisional standards issued by the society as affecting' only the automobile industry, it may be mentioned that the hall mark of the B.E.S.A. is given in certain instances' after a reasonable testing period has elapsed. Among the subjects dealt with by the society may be mentioned lims and valves for pneumatic tires, electrical equipment (including dynamosj. starting motors^ and carbon

brushes), coach work nomenclature, fabric linings for. brakes, disc clutch riiigs, and positions and movement of control-pedala and levers. The society appreciates that it is not sufficient to issue a standard which, in th'o absence of further action, may become a matter of academic interest only. To prevent this the fullest publicity is given to tho society's standards, and every effort is constantly made to bring into touch the manufacturer and tho consumer.

Work is in" progress on .several subjects in addition to those already dealt with, and,tho possibilities of further standardisation are being constantly explored. 'It may be taken as an essential fact that, whatever developments may ultimately take place in connection with the policy of British manufacture overseas, standardisation will play an important part.,