Standards

A technical standard is an established norm or requirement for a repeatable technical task which is applied to a common and repeated use of rules, conditions, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, and related management systems practices.

It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes, and practices applicable to a particular industry, organisation, business unit, technology.

Organisations today often will have multiple standards which need to be adhered to either internally or externally.

PROCESS

Step 1. Establishment of Standard.

Standards are the criteria against which actual performance will be measured. Standards are set in both quantitative and qualitative terms.

Step 2. Measurement of actual performance

Performance is measured in an objective and reliable manner. It should be checked in the same unit in which the standards are set.

Step 3. Comparing actual performance with standards.

This step involves comparing the actual performance with standards laid down in order to find the deviations. For example, performance of a salesman in terms of unit sold in a week can be easily measured against the standard output for the week.

Step 4. Analysis the cause of deviations.

Managers must determine why standards were not met. This step also involves determining whether more control is necessary or if the standard should be changed.

Step 5. Taking corrective action.

After the reasons for deviations have been determined, managers can then develop solutions for issues with meeting the standards and make changes to processes or behaviors.