Did You Know? offers a quick look at the broad scope of activities underway within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Federation of members and partners, highlighting recent accomplishments and new resources related to standardization.
SAE Webinar to Discuss 3D Printing in the Product Development Process
SAE International, an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, will be hosting a free webinar on 3D printing and its impact on the construction industry.
"Integrating 3D Printing into the Product Development Process" will introduce specific industry uses of 3D printing - for example, how Volvo Construction Equipment uses the technology to create component prototypes that can be mounted directly on an engine and tested. Listeners will also learn about the technology's capabilities and limitations.
The webinar will be held on Thursday, July 9, at 2 pm EDT. Read more in the SAE news release, and click here to register for the webinar.
ASSE and OSHA Sign Five-Year Agreement to Further Industry Safety
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has signed a five-year agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), continuing an alliance that promotes construction safety and addresses hazards within the industry.
As part of the agreement, ASSE and OSHA will develop training resources and promote education on worker safety and health, as well as workers' rights and employers' responsibilities. The organizations first signed an alliance in 2002 and have since partnered for many occupational safety-related initiatives, such as the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, and events surrounding North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Week.
To learn more, see the ASSE news release.
ALI Unveils a New Website
The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI), an ANSI member and accredited standards developer, has launched its redesigned website, www.autolift.org. The site provides user-friendly access to information for lift buyers, owners, and users.
Visitors to the site can learn about lift safety standards, codes, and regulations, and access information on purchasing a lift. A directory of lifts is available, allowing users to browse or search by type, manufacturer, load rating, and more. The site's ALI History section provides a timeline of the Institute, from its founding in 1945, to its struggles in the mid-70s, resurgence in the 80s, and safety-focused initiatives from the 90s to the present.
Read more in the ALI news release.
AIAG Study Reveals Challenges for Automakers Seeking Greater Efficiency
The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG), an ANSI member, released the results of a study that examined the challenges that automakers face as they seek greater efficiency in quality systems, standards, and practices.
The white paper, titled "Quality 2020," was based on interviews with top automakers in the United States. Results revealed that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers find "problem solving" and "customer-specific requirements" to be the most critical issues impacting quality. Greater cost savings could be achieved if complexity and redundancy in quality management systems (QMS) requirements were reduced. Automakers are also concerned about the impact of baby boomer retirements in the next five to eight years, as the industry will lose knowledgeable employees, teachers, and mentors.
Learn more in the AIAG news release, and access the white paper here.
IEC, ISO, and ITU Extend Deadline for World Standards Day Video Competition
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), members of the World Standards Cooperation, have extended their World Standards Day video competition deadline to July 20. The competition is intended to drive conversation around the importance of standards and how they impact daily lives. The competition, open to the public, except for ISO, IEC and ITU staff, is an opportunity to be creative through media that show examples of how international standards shape processes, products, and various settings.
The World Standards Cooperation challenge calls on participants to "imagine a world without standards," without telephone codes, country and currency codes, and access to the Internet, for example.
To see what has been submitted so far click here. To get involved or for more information on the competition, click here.