Standards, Companies, and Senior Executives: What We Discovered Jim Thomas, President ASTM International

2 What Companies Told Us Over The Years Companies Participate in ASTM International Because It’s Easy Online Participation No prerequisite for membership No prohibitive costs It’s a Choice The right process for the right reason Multiple Path Approach Individual Company Objectives Are Supported

ASTM International3 They Wanted Access to Multiple Markets 3500 ASTM Standards are used in 75 countries China alone uses some 500 ASTM standards as the basis of their national standards ASTM Standards are Developed in Accordance with The TBT Agreement: Rev. 8, Section IX Transparency Openness Impartiality and Consensus Effectiveness and Relevance Coherence Development Dimension

ASTM International4 They Wanted Standards with Quality and Relevance

ASTM International5 We Dug Deeper: Two Research Projects in The impact of standards development on companies: a telephone interview and case study approach conducted by the University of Texas 2. An assessment of executive thinking regarding the impact of standards on profitability: a telephone survey conducted by Market Measurement, Inc.

ASTM International6 Research Project No. 1 Business Dynamics of Participation in Standards Development : Telephone Interviews & Case Studies Six Sectors Fuels Metals Consumer Products Construction Chemicals/Plastics Medical

ASTM International7 Why Companies Participate: The Major Findings Relatively low cost of participation Insurance against sudden marketplace shifts due to technology, regulation, or competition Operational efficiency Better credibility with customers Benefits to individuals Professional network Continuing education

ASTM International8 What Companies Saw as Benefits to Participation Maintaining product quality, reliability, and performance Insuring interoperability of products Improving market access Developing consumer confidence Managing regulatory and liability risk Assuring that new standards or revisions are compatible with the firm’s product development or long-term technological priorities.

ASTM International9 Research Project No. 2 Executive Survey: 250 In-Depth Telephone Interviews Participants: Executives C-Level Executives Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer President Technical Executives Engineering Manufacturing Quality Assurance/Control Research Participants: Companies 10 – 100 employees employees 250+employees Fortune 1000 companies Over 100 industries represented

ASTM International10 How They See Standards A solid majority of C-level and technical executives view standards favorably: 68% said “very favorably” 96% said “very” or “somewhat favorably” Know that standards have a high impact on business: 75% said “high impact” 95% said “high” or “moderate impact”

ASTM International11 C-Level and Technology Executives Agree

ASTM International12 What They Said Regarding The Favorable Impact of Standards on Business Objectives Improve product quality/performance Improve customer receptivity Enhance coordination with suppliers/customers Resource for product liability challenges Support product development Contribute to interoperability Facilitate market access Enhance technology transfer

13 The Numbers

ASTM International14 Exporting 85% of executives representing firms that export think that standards facilitate market access because they establish specific entry requirements. This is particularly true of testing requirements.

ASTM International15 Who Participates in the Development of Standards? Fortune 1000 Companies : 81% 250+ Employee Companies: 67% Employee Companies : 60% <100 Employee Companies: 38%

ASTM International16 Is There A Connection Between Quality and Relevance Satisfied Customers Access to Markets Participation in the Development of Standards And Success?

ASTM International17 All The Successful Companies Said Yes