The Importance of Engineering Design Standards in Product Development
Engineering design standards are an essential part of the engineering profession, with their roots stretching back to the earliest days of the field. They ensure that when used minimum standards of technical excellence are maintained.
Early engineering standards developed in the 19th century focused on the safe construction of bridges and buildings. During the 20th century, standards became more refined and more numerous, with a greater emphasis on the quality of the design process.
Today, engineering design standards are widely used in a variety of industries, providing guidelines for design considerations, materials selection, and the overall safety of the engineering process.
These standards are continuously evolving in response to changing technologies and new demands, ensuring that engineers are always aware of the most up-to-date regulations and have the tools to apply them.
In this article, we will provide an overview of some of engineering design standards, its types and some key elements.
What is an Engineering Design Standard?
An engineering design standard is a document that provides guidance on how to design, produce, and test engineering products and systems.
Engineering design standards can be developed by private organizations, government agencies, or professional societies. They typically cover topics such as materials, dimensions, tolerances, manufacturing processes, testing methods, and safety.
Standards can be voluntary or mandatory. In many cases, adherence to a voluntary standard is seen as best practice, and failure to comply with a mandatory standard can result in legal penalties.
Key Elements of Engineering Design Standards
There are four key elements of engineering design standards, these are;
Quality and Safety, Code of Practice, Methods of Testing and Symbols and Terminology
Quality and Safety
Engineering design standards provide the foundation for the development of quality, safe and reliable products.
They provide rules and recommendations for performance, construction, structure, equipment, and durability.
These standards are critical to ensure the safety, reliability and quality of products, as well as to ensure that products meet the desired specifications and requirements.
Codes of practice
Engineering design standards are established to ensure a code of practice and provide guidance for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of engineering systems.
Adherence to these standards is essential for ensuring the safety of personnel, equipment, and processes, as well as for providing a uniform approach to the design and development of engineering systems.
Methods of Testing
Engineering design standards are important for ensuring a consistent and reliable testing process.
This involves methods for testing, analyzing, appraising, verifying, and measuring the safety conditions of production, as well as manufacturing, designing, drawing, and operating.
These standards also help to ensure that the testing is conducted in a safe and ethical manner.
Symbols and Terminology
Most engineering disciplines have established design standards that include specifying the use of particular symbols and terminology.
It provides a framework for the consistent use of symbols, terminology, abbreviations, marks, preferred numbers, or units.
In many cases, these standards are developed and maintained by professional societies or governmental bodies.
How To Get Access to Engineering Standards
There are a variety of ways to get access to engineering design standards.
One option is to purchase them from the organization that developed the standard. Standards can also be found in libraries or through online search engines.
Libraries often carry a wide range of engineering resources, including standards and regulations.
Online search engines such as Google and Bing can be used to locate engineering design standards and other related resources.
Many standards are available in downloadable formats, allowing engineers to access the standards directly from their own devices
When using an engineering design standard, it is important to ensure that you are using the latest version of the document. Standards are often updated as new technologies and approaches become available.
Types of Engineering Design Standards
Industry Standards
Industry standards are a type of engineering design standard that are created by an industry body or association.
These standards are designed to provide guidance and specifications for products or services in a particular industry. Industry standards can be voluntary or mandatory, and they may be enforceable by law.
Voluntary industry standards are usually developed by trade associations or other groups of companies that operate in a specific industry.
These standards are not required by law, but they may be adopted by companies as a way to improve quality or competition within the industry.
Mandatory industry standards are enacted by government agencies and are enforced by law. These standards are typically created to protect public safety, health, or the environment.
Industry standards can have a significant impact on businesses, consumers, and the environment. They can promote competition and innovation, improve quality and safety, and protect public health and the environment. However, they can also raise costs and create barriers to entry for small businesses.
International Standards
There are numerous engineering design standards that exist globally, created by various standards organizations. Depending on the specific industry or application, different standards may be more relevant.
Generally speaking, there are three main types of international engineering design standards:
1) Industry-specific standards: These are usually created by trade associations or professional societies, and they cover specific aspects of design and manufacturing within a particular industry.
Examples include the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards for mechanical and electrical engineering, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards for automotive engineering and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for many different industries.
2) Functional specification standards: These set forth requirements that a product or system must meet in order to be considered fit for its intended purpose.
They often address safety, performance, and other safety-critical aspects of design. Examples include the European Union's Machinery Directive and the international IEC 61508 functional safety standard.
3) Product/materials standards: These establish criteria that a product or material must meet in order to be used in a particular application. For example, the ISO 9000 family of quality management standards covers manufacturing and design processes, while the ASTM International standards cover materials and products used in construction, among other things.
European Standards
European Standards (ENs) are voluntary agreements between manufacturers and customers that standardize the characteristics and quality of products and services. <