Standards Developing Organizations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with the need for the creation and dissemination of new standards in a dot.com world. The challenges and the opportunities presented by increasing use of Internet technology have been addressed by Dr. Robert Schwarzwalder, Manager, Library Systems & Information Research, at the Ford (Motor Company) Research Laboratory, and Dr. Mark W. Hurwitz, CAE, President and CEO, American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Dr. Schwarzwalder made a major presentation at an IHS-sponsored standards seminar earlier this year, and Dr. Hurwitz delivered the keynote address at the Standards Engineering Society's (SES) Annual Conference. He spoke to a plenary session in Baltimore, Maryland on August 14th, 2000.

Excerpts from their remarks indicate the nature and the scope of the battle to keep standards current:

Dr. Hurwitz: For the standards and conformity assessment community to be successful in an "environment of change," we MUST be constantly aware of, and responsive to, the impact of forces around us---including the need for faster time-to-market for new standards, improved access to information, and more...

Dr. Schwarzwalder: The standards development process does not make full use of electronic communications and results in unnecessary travel expenses. The current process is better suited to national rather than multinational concerns, and the development stage is often lengthy, and unsuitable for developing technologies.

Dr. Hurwitz: In line with this, I would like to take a moment to bring you up to date on the activities of a group that has been working aggressively to develop a new operational strategy for the U.S. standards system.

The project originated at the March 18, 1998 ANSI Board of Directors meeting, when Ray Kammer, director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), called for the development of a U.S. National Standards Strategy (NSS). In his remarks to the Board, Mr. Kammer said, "The United States needs an effective national standards strategy if we are to compete effectively in the global market."

A group was formed, with participation open to all sectors--industry, government, trade associations, professional societies, and others. The group recognized that standardization and conformity assessment activities have contributed directly to pervasive globalization of the marketplace. As a result, the U.S. needed to make thoughtful choices in WHAT TO HARMONIZE and HOW TO HARMONIZE standards on a global basis. At the same time, our efforts must preserve the improvements that "GOOD STANDARDIZATION" has already introduced in public healh, safety and the environment.

Dr. Schwarzwalder: The need for standards is GLOBAL.

Dr. Hurwitz: To the end-user, the SOURCE of a standard is far less important than the fact that the standard is "good," and not just mediocre.

JOIN IN! We'd like to know how you feel about standards. Please e-mail me at the address below. Tell us who and where you are, and what position you hold. Then, kindly answer the following questions:

1. What kinds of standards are most important to you in your work?
2. How do you use them?
3. Are they updated on a timely basis?
4. What is YOUR definition of a "good" standard?

We will print a representative sampling of the answers we receive, and, unless notified otherwise, we will provide attribution. Please let us know if you do not wish to be identified and/or to have your employer's name listed if you're among the people whom we quote.

Thanks,
Jaren Green, Editor
jaren.green@ihs.com

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