An Introduction to the American National Standards Institute and the United States Standards System...

An Introductionto the

American National Standards Instituteand the

United States Standards System

Last update: January 2005

© 2004 ANSISlide 2

ANSI and the U.S. Standardization Process:Tools for Business Success

The international language

of commerce

is standards.

Source:

Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce – Donald Evans

Report on Standards and Competitiveness – Removing Standards-Related Trade Barriers Through Effective Collaboration

May 18, 2004

© 2004 ANSISlide 3


Standards Developers and Conformity Assessment Bodies

GovernmentAcceptance

Commercialand ConsumerAcceptance

Standardization: A Global Community

© 2004 ANSISlide 4


The U.S. Standardization Model“One Approach Among Many in the World”

The U.S. “standardization” model includes both standards-setting and conformity assessment programs

resembles the nation’s political (federal) structure

resembles the nation’s economic structure sector-based and driven by market needs

relies strongly on diversity and decentralization

© 2004 ANSISlide 5


Compliance and Enforcement: Factors Influencing Standardization

Public opinion Example: Publicity about faulty or dangerous products will negatively

impact the market

Legal system Example: Laws allow consumers to return faulty products Consumers can sue producers of faulty or dangerous products

Penalties include requiring companies to recall and withdraw products from the market

Government agencies (federal, state or local) Example: The import of unsafe products can be denied Faulty or dangerous products can be recalled or removed from the market

Examples from a U.S. perspective . . .

© 2004 ANSISlide 6


The U.S. approach to market relevance

In the U.S. alone, there are more than 95,000 recognized standards.

These documents are being developed by more than 450 standards developing

organizations (SDOs), with the twenty largest of these organizations producing approximately 80% of the standards

at least 150 consortia hundreds of committees addressing the technical requirements of

standards

© 2004 ANSISlide 7


Examples:Current Standardization Initiatives

Homeland Security issues such as biometrics, radiation detector systems, “Safe Harbors” and others

Nanotechnology terminology and nomenclature

Federal election reform Example: An ANSI-accredited developer is working on equipment

related standards

© 2004 ANSISlide 8


Cardinal Principles of the U.S. System

TransparencyTransparencyOpennessOpenness

Due ProcessDue Process

Consensus

© 2004 ANSISlide 9


The Role of Government

In the U.S., no single government agency has control over standards. Each government agency determines which standards meet

its needs. The agency is responsible for determining whether a

private sector standard already exists that is appropriate for its needs. If so, they will use the private sector standard. If not, the agency is expected to work with the private sector

to develop the needed standard.

© 2004 ANSISlide 10


The Role of Government

National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) - 1995 (P.L. 104-113 – 1996) Encourages federal agencies to utilize voluntary

consensus standards where feasible Encourages federal participation in voluntary consensus

standards development activities Designates NIST as “coordinator” (no budgetary or

policy authority) of government standards policy activities



SummaryStructure of the U.S. Standardization System

ANSI Coordinator of the Private Sector Private sector, non-profit, membership organization Supported by membership fees, sale of publications

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Coordinator of Federal Agencies Sets legal metrology standards; accredits laboratories

Standards developing organizations (SDOs) Private trade and professional organizations, often non-profit Many, but not all, accredited by ANSI



MissionMission

To enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the American quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems and ensuring their integrity.

A Private- and Public-Sector Partnership Since 1918

ANSI is not a government agency or a standards developer.ANSI is not a government agency or a standards developer.



• Academia • Individuals • Government • Manufacturing • Trade Associations

A Federation A Federation of members representing . . .of members representing . . .

• Professional Societies • Service Organizations • Standards Developers • Consumer and Labor Interests• and many more

Bringing the Private- & Public-Sectors TogetherBringing the Private- & Public-Sectors Together



COMPANYMEMBERFORUM

CONSUMERINTEREST

FORUM

ORGANIZATIONALMEMBERFORUM

GOVERNMENTMEMBERFORUM

BOARD OFDIRECTORS

Member Participation

Organization Chart



U.S. PRIVATESECTOR

U.S. DOMICILEDSTANDARDS

DEVELOPING BODIES

OTHER FOREIGNSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

INTERNATIONALSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

REGIONALSTANDARDIZATION

BODIES

U.S. GOVERNMENT(PUBLIC SECTOR)



ANSI’s Roles and Responsibilities

to accredit U.S. Standards Developers, U.S. Technical Advisory Groups and conformity assessment programs

to ensure integrity of the U.S. voluntary consensus standards system

to provide regional and international access

to offer a neutral policy forum



ANSI as an Accreditor

ANSI accreditation, whether as a standards developer, Technical Advisory Group, or a certification program, provides an assurance of:

Openness Balance Due process Transparency Consensus



American National Standards (ANS) Developers Currently there are approximately 200

ANSI-accredited standards developers* Not all standards developed by these

organizations are submitted for consideration as ANS

There are approximately 10,000 American National Standards*

*Information based on year-end 2003 data.



American Society of

Mechanical Engineers

ASME International

American NationalStandards Institute

ANSI

Society of Automotive Engineers

SAE

InterNational Committee for

Information Technology Standards

(Secretariat: Information

Technology Industry Council)

INCITSAccredited Standards Committee

T1 - Telecommunications

(Secretariat: Alliance for

Telecommunications

Industry Solutions)

T1

Examples of U.S.Standards Organizations

ASTM International

American Petroleum

Institute

API

Others



ANS Development Cycle

Public Review Period(30 or 45 or 60 day Announcement in S ta nd a rds A c tion )

Consensus Ballot(Form al Ballot of Consensus Group)

Approved by theBoard of Standards Review

Appeals ProcessCom pleted

Consensus ObtainedSubm itted to the Board of Standards Review

Vote and Com m ent Resolution(Recirculation and 2nd Announcem ent, if necessary)

Developm ent of a DraftAm erican National Standard

Project Initiation

IDEAS

COMMENTS

VOTE



In a global marketplace, the

objective of the standards

development process must be

a single, internationally

recognized, technically valid

standard that allows products to

be distributed for commerce

worldwide without change or

modification.

One Global Standard Accepted by AllOne Global Standard Accepted by All



AdoptInternational Standards as

American National Standards(where they meet the needs

of the user community)

Submit American National Standards for adoption as regional or International Standards

Ensure that U.S. positions (policy

and technical) are accepted by international and regional standards organizations

To this end, the U.S. will . . . .



A National Standards Strategy (NSS) for the United States

Confirming the importance of a market-driven, sectoral-focus In 1998, the U.S. standardization

community set about to develop its “future vision”

The result is the first-ever National Standards Strategy (NSS) for the U.S. (approved in August 2000).

Implementation is the responsibility of all U.S. interests

ANSI serves as the coordinator



International ElectrotechnicalCommission

International Organization for Standardization

International Telecommunications Union



U.S. Member Body of the ISO

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – Geneva, Switzerland Comprised of 146 National Standards Bodies

ANSI is one of 5 permanent members to the Council of 18 4 permanent members to the Technical Management Board

of 12 ANSI and its members

participate in 80% of Technical Committees administer 18% of TC Secretariats



U.S. National Committee of the IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – Geneva, Switzerland Comprised of 60 National Committees

(member nations) U.S. National Committee is one of

5 permanent members of the Council Board of 15 15 members of the Standardization Management Board participates in 91% of Technical Committees assigned Secretariats for 16% of TC Secretariats



U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)

Similar to Accredited Standards Developers, U.S. TAGs are accredited by ANSI and must follow the Institute’s cardinal principles of openness, balance, due process and transparency.

ANSI sets policy for U.S. TAGs because the Institute is recognized as the official U.S. member of ISO and, through its U.S. National Committee (USNC), is the official U.S. member of IEC.

ANSI pays total dues for U.S. membership in both ISO and IEC.



Regional Standards Bodies

COPANT (Pan-American Standards Commission) ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S.

PASC (Pacific Area Standards Congress) ANSI has membership on behalf of the U.S.

CEN (European Committee for Standardization) ANSI has access as a liaison via the ISO/CEN Vienna Agreement

CENELEC (European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization) ANSI has access as a liaison via the IEC/CENELEC Dresden Agreement

ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) U.S. companies which qualify may apply for membership



COPANT (Pan-American Standards Commission)

Standards setting body for Latin and South American countries Founded as the Pan American Technical Standards

Committee in 1949 to develop regional standards Executive Secretariat is in Caracas, Venezuela

Currently 28 Active and 7 Adherent member countries Oriented towards international standards, but develops

regional technical standards when none exists at the international level



PASC(Pacific Area Standards Congress)

Founded in 1972 in Honolulu, Hawaii Currently 25 members

Membership open to any country or territory bordering on the Pacific Rim whose standards organization is a member of ISO and IEC, or national organization that PASC determines is capable of making a contribution

Secretariat responsibility rotates among members Does not set standards, rather coordinates

on standards issues



Standards Bodies of the European Union

European Standardization Policy Established in 1984 in the General Guidelines for Co-operation between

the EU and EFTA and the European Standards bodies Goals are to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry and to

improve the functioning of the European market “New Approach” Directives state that the European Union shall look

towards the private sector to develop standards

Three organizations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI) now constitute the European forum for standardization These bodies are made up of diverse parties that form more than 1,500

technical groups Work to develop national standards within the European Union has

essentially ceased



CANADASCC

U.K.BSI

Examples of NationalStandards Organizations

U.S.ANSI

JAPANJISC

GERMANYDIN

FRANCEAFNOR/UTE

BRAZILABNT

AUSTRALIASAA



Characteristics of the U.S. Conformity Assessment System

Conformity assessment activities are not centrally organized

Activities are a mix of government (regulatory programs) and private sector (market-based programs)

Approaches vary among sectors



Conformity Assessment Goals

Promote and achieve global acceptance of products and services through conformity assessment activities for Product certifiers Personnel certifiers ISO 9000 & 14000 registrars

(via the ANSI/ANAB partnership) International Accreditation Forum (IAF) Laboratory Accreditation Working Group -

National Council for Laboratory Accreditation



National Conformity Assessment Principles Document (NCAP)

Articulates principles for U.S. conformity assessment activities Guidance document to be considered in

conjunction with the U.S. National Standards Strategy

Improves the ability of consumers, buyers, sellers, regulators and other interested parties to have confidence in the processes of providing Certification services

Approved in 2002 Implementation is the responsibility of all U.S. interests



ANSI Accreditation Programs

Conformity Assessment

ProductCertifiers

ISO 9000 / ISO 14000Certifiers

PersonnelCertifiers

Standards Developing

Organizations

and U.S. TAGs

ISO/IEC

Guide

65

ISO/IEC

Guides

62 and 66

ISO/

IEC170

24

ANSI Procedures

Standards



Knowledge Provides AdvantageKnowledge Provides Advantage

ANSI as anInformation Provider Standards development and implementation

has become yet one more arena in which to compete — and excel — in order to ensure business success.

There is a price to be paid, but none so high as the cost of competing against the consensus choice of the key participants in an open standards system.

ANSI provides access to timely, relevant, and actionable information for its members and customers.



Web-Based Information Tools ANSI Online (http://www.ansi.org)

News and information Standards Action for public notice ANSI Reporter for news and editorial

coverage NSSN: A National Resource for

Global Standards (http://www.nssn.org)

Key-word or document number searches; bibliographic data on standards; up-to-date reports on new development projects, and much more.

Electronic Standards Store(http://webstore.ansi.org)E-commerce site for real-time electronic publication sales



Education & Training Services

Promote use and value of standards

Promote Strategic Standardization Management

Provide training on standardization participation, leadership, and administration



ANSI as a Policy Forum

Facilitate U.S. standardization policy development

Promote U.S. standardization policies globally

ANSI is the bridge for standardization between industry and government

among and within industries



ANSI Partnership with U.S. Governmenton Standards and Trade Issues

Influence via: ANSI | U.S. Government

ISO and IECISO and IEC

COPANTCOPANT

PASCPASC

CEN/CENELEC/ETSICEN/CENELEC/ETSI

WTOWTO

FTAAFTAA

APECAPEC

TABDTABD



The same guidanceapplies to all agencies

Public Law 104-113 known as the “National Technology Transfer and

Advancement Act of 1995” Signed into law on 7 March 1996 Guidance document is OMB Circular A-119



Value of ANSI Membership

Influence ANSI Federation policies ISO/IEC policies WHAT standards are written WHERE

If you don’t do it, your competitors will If the private sector does not do it, the

federal Government may take the lead Assurance of a level playing field for

standards and conformity assessment programs Access to a major source of information and expertise Domestic and global networking opportunities



Benefits to Companies

Protection The strong voice, influence and

networks necessary to help ensure that standards are not written that will exclude your products, processes or technologies

Knowledge Early awareness of new requirements Close customer and supplier contact Early assessment of new market directions

Positioning Influence at the leading edges of technology



Benefits to Organizations

Global relevance Self regulation Shared costs Reduced liability Reduced redundancy Market place acceptance

of standards



Benefits to Consumers

Greater selection Easier choices Better and consistent quality Lower costs Enhanced safety & health



Benefits to Government

Lower costs for procurement and regulatory agencies

Increased U.S. competitiveness, employment and economic growth

Private sector cooperation World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance Legislative compliance



For more information:

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1819 L Street, NW 25 West 43rd Street

Sixth Floor Fourth FloorWashington, DC 20036 New York, NY 10036

Tel: 202.293.8020 Tel: 212.642.4900 Fax: 202.293.9287 Fax: 212.398.0023

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