ASTM and ISO to cooperate on additive manufacturing standards.
Press Release Summary:
ISO and ASTM International have signed an agreement to increase cooperation in developing international standards for additive manufacturing. Partner Standards Development Organization agreement provides new opportunities for the 2 organizations to adopt and jointly develop standards that serve the global marketplace. It aims to optimize stakeholder resources in development of additive manufacturing standards where both ISO and ASTM have expertise, and to shorten time to market.
Original Press Release:
ISO and ASTM to Cooperate on International Standards for Additive Manufacturing
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ASTM International have signed an agreement to increase cooperation in developing international standards for additive manufacturing. The Partner Standards Development Organization (PSDO) cooperation agreement provides new opportunities for the two organizations to adopt and jointly develop international standards that serve the global marketplace. The agreement, developed by ASTM International in consultation with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) - the U.S. member body to ISO - was approved at the September 2011 ISO Council meeting in New Delhi, India.
The PSDO cooperation agreement aims to optimize stakeholder resources in the development of additive manufacturing standards where both ISO and ASTM have expertise, and to shorten time to market. The decision to set up the agreement follows the recent creation of ISO technical committee (TC) 261, Additive manufacturing. ASTM's committee F42, Additive manufacturing technology, had important work in this area, and it was decided that both groups would benefit from combining their expertise.
What is additive manufacturing?
Additive manufacturing refers to the process of joining materials to manufactured objects, layer upon layer, as opposed to "subtractive manufacturing" methods.
"Adopting a spirit of inclusion and cooperation vis-Ã -vis other standardizing bodies can only increase the market relevance of our standards, while ensuring an effective and efficient use of resources," said ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele.
"As opportunities to forge collaborations in global standards development emerge in exciting new areas such as additive manufacturing, ASTM International stands ready to work with others to avoid duplication of effort and better serve our stakeholders," said ASTM International president Jim Thomas.
A network of the national standards bodies of 163 countries, ISO develops international standards for business, government, and society. It has a current portfolio of more than 18,600 standards for almost every sector of economic activity and technology, from agriculture and construction to information and communication technologies, safety, and the environment.
ASTM International is an ANSI member and audited designator. Today, some 12,000 ASTM standards are used around the world to improve product quality, enhance safety, facilitate market access and trade, and build consumer confidence.
For more information, see ISO's press release.
