Overview of ANSI Membership and Engagement

Aug 24, 2024

ANSI Overview and Orientation Webinar Notes

Introduction

  • Welcome to the ANSI overview and orientation webinar.
  • Live webinars are hosted the first Friday of each month.
  • Mixed audience: new members, individuals in new roles, and potential SI members.

About ANSI

  • Mission: Enhance global competitiveness of U.S. business and quality of life through voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems.
  • Founded: 1918 (100-year anniversary this year).
  • Status: Private non-profit organization (501 C 3), not a government agency (collaborates with over 65 agencies).
  • Role: Works with 240 standard developing organizations (STOs) to provide the process for developing standards, not developing the standards itself.

Membership Demographics

  • Represents over 270,000 companies and 30 million professionals worldwide.
  • Membership breakdown:
    • 60% Company Members
    • 28% Organizational Associations
    • 6% Government
    • 4% International
    • 2% Educational
  • Cross-section of industries including manufacturing, technology, and a growing services sector (80% of GDP, 30% of exports).

Participation Opportunities

  • Members can participate through:
    • Policy setting committees (national, international, intellectual property rights, conformity assessment, regional).
    • Member forums (important for networking and sharing issues).
    • Board of Directors.
  • Importance of identifying domestic and international marketplace challenges to help ANSI serve members better.

Staying Connected

  • What's New: Weekly publication with announcements, events, and training opportunities. Encourage subscription.
  • Standards Action: Key public review vehicle for standards development participation.
  • Discounts on standards publications and events for members.

National Role of ANSI

  • Public-private partnership with policymakers.
  • Government relies on private sector solutions; established through various policies (OMB Circular A-119, NTTA 1995).
  • ANSI acts as a bridge between executive/legislative branches and the ANSI Federation.
  • Example: Toy safety issues and accredited third-party inspections.

Standards Development

  • U.S. system is mostly voluntary and marketplace-driven (bottom-up) compared to top-down systems in other countries.
  • ANSI oversees over 240 accredited STOs; process is open, transparent, consensus-based.
  • Standards developed can become American National Standards (ANS) and then international standards.

International Engagement

  • ANSI as the U.S. member body to ISO; engages internationally through bilateral, regional, and global agreements.
  • Standards Alliance: partnership with US AID to assist developing countries in implementing WTO agreements.
  • Focus on Chinese standardization reform and capacity building in developing countries.

Recent Initiatives

  • Additive manufacturing collaborative roadmap created.
  • Service sector initiative addressing key areas (food safety, transportation, retail, emerging technology).
  • Emerging areas: unmanned vehicle systems, mobile health devices, dietary supplements.
  • Unmanned aerial system collaboration with FAA and industry partners.

Member Forums and Training

  • Invitation to participate in organizational member forums and joint member forums during World Standards Week (October).
  • Training sessions available live online.
  • Networking opportunities to share best practices among members.

Purchasing Standards

  • ANSI webstore for purchasing standards; discounted rates for members.
  • Customer service available via phone, email, and live chat.
  • Contact information for ANSI staff and membership teams provided.

Conclusion

  • Encourage engagement and participation; open invitation for questions and support.
  • Thank you for attending.