Whether to standardize equipment and spare parts is one of the enduring debates of engineering, maintenance and spare parts management. On the one hand, standardization is said to lead to improved operating and manpower efficiency, as well as reduced inventories. On the other hand, not standardizing is said to enable companies to take advantage of technical developments and innovation. One thing that is certain is that the impact of explicit pros and cons are hard to quantify and will be specific to the individual circumstance.
First, let’s define standardization. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary suggests a simple definition of standardize as “to change things so that they are similar and consistent and agree with rules about what is proper and acceptable.”