When talking about global benchmarks, people use the term "global standard." A standard means a "norm." A standard is a promise that spans the economy, industry, and technology. While technological advances can create the need for a "standard," a single standard can also drive a leap on the level of a revolution. Based on a survey of experts across industry, academia, research institutes, and the media, the National Institute of Technology and Standards and ChosunBiz selected the "top 10 standards that changed the world" and the "top 10 standards that changed the lives and economy of Koreans," and reexamine the role of standards. [Editor's note]
Screws look small and ordinary, but they are the most powerful standard that has supported human civilization. From buildings to automobiles, home appliances, aircraft, and even spacecraft, no structure or machine can be completed without screws. More than simple pieces of metal, screws were an "invisible order" that allowed humanity to build complex systems stably.
In the early days of the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, screw specifications varied widely. The size of screws and the angle of threads differed by country, by factory, and even within the same company. Even machines made in the same factory had different screw specifications, so mechanics had to cut new screws each time. Massive expense and wasted time were inevitable.
Then in 1841, Joseph Whitworth proposed the first standardized thread angle and pitch, the "Whitworth screw." After that, countries including the United States, Germany, and Japan created their own national standards. Later, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) established unified specifications, securing global compatibility. Most screws we use today follow international and national standards such as ISO, ANSI, and JIS. Now, a screw marked "M8×1.25" will match precisely with products manufactured in any country.
These standards led to a manufacturing revolution. In the automobile industry, they ensured parts compatibility in mass production systems. In construction, they ensured stable connections for steel structures. In electronics, they enabled miniaturization and precision through fine-thread specifications. In the aerospace industry, they established high-strength screw specifications that can withstand extreme environments. Screws that honored the standard made mass production possible, which led to lower manufacturing costs. Because strength and safety criteria are included in the standards, people can use products from any country with confidence.
Now screws symbolize connection. Standardized screws have become a "language" that connects countries and corporations, and industry to industry. Machines and parts made in different countries are compatible because their screw specifications are identical.
With industrial development, the role, materials, and functions of screws are evolving. "Smart screws" that embed sensors to monitor fastening status in real time are emerging, along with aerospace screws made from ultralight, heat-resistant materials and ultraprecision screws that use nanotechnology. If communication standards in the 6G era connect humans, future screw standards will connect the material world more precisely.