Why We All Need to be Involved in the Standards

Transcript:Why We All Need to be Involved in the Standards:
Why We All Need to be Involved in the Standards Development and Conformity Assessment Process Fact: Standards Mean Business To industry, government and the bottom line The U.S Department of Commerce estimates that standards and conformity assessment impact 80% of global commodity trade. Standards and conformance provide significant value to society and government, are essential for an expanding national economy, and vital to the global competitiveness of U.S. industry. All aspects of American goods and services are affected at some point by standards. They cannot be ignored or put aside. How Do Standards Boost Business? Public-Private Partnerships Competitive Advantage Efficiency/Cost Savings Innovation/R&D Customer Confidence/Loyalty Market Access/Trade Public-Private Partnerships The U.S. standards system is diverse and inclusive in participation; promotes an open, consensus-based development process; and is fast, flexible, and completely market driven – resulting in more effective standards and a better trade environment for U.S. interests. Thousands of technical, industry, and scientific standards are developed each year, which support market growth and business innovation; promote health, safety, and the environment; and save time and money for companies, organizations, and governments at all levels. Public-private partnerships provide an opportunity for industry government and employees to network on issues relating to standards and to provide input on issues of specific concern and priority. Competitive Advantage Participating in standards development activities offer competitive advantages and positions the U.S. as a leader on the global stage Gain insider knowledge and early access to information Exert influence on technical content Develop new markets for products, services, and technologies; and strategic positioning within those markets On almost any given day, a standards group or technical committee is meeting and making decisions that could affect the bottom line of our national economy Shouldn’t we be involved? Efficiency and Cost Savings Standardization lowers costs by eliminating redundancy, minimizing errors, and reducing time to market Beyond the bottom line: standards improve quality, lead-time, factory flexibility, and supply chain management Reliance on standards and conformance ensures quality, safety, and reliability, all of which provide cost savings and a better ROI Innovation and R&D Builds on previously standardized technologies, systems, and terminologies which lowers R&D costs Shorten the cycle: research, prototyping, and standardization are symbiotic overlapping processes Gain insider knowledge and early access to key process and application information for developing new products, services, and technologies By participating in standards development activities, stakeholders have an opportunity to directly influence the requirements