Contributions and limitations of standardization with respect to automated system design

Based on a real case, the purpose of the present paper is to highlight the beneficial effects of the introduction of European safety standards with respect to machinery design. Indeed, application of these standards early in the 1990s widely contributed to a reduction in the occurrence of serious accidents in French printing works. They have also enabled designers to put into application general principles laid down by legislators. However, these standards may be criticized on certain grounds such as the preciseness of their requirements, which designers often find difficult to apply. Moreover, they tend to focus on specific technical components whilst overlooking systemic approaches in which the system is considered From a global viewpoint.