Standardization News

ASTM International has over 30,000 volunteer members and 12,000 standards operating worldwide, representing over 90 industries in over 140 countries. Creating consensus standards is ASTM’s mission, and its members are indispensable to that goal. Through their participation in technical committees, ASTM’s members assist in the development of these standards, which are crucial in helping to make the world safer and more efficient, both at home and abroad.

According to members themselves, membership in ASTM isn’t just a one-way street. Members are provided with opportunities to network with, and learn from, industry professionals and experts in their fields. ASTM membership is the best of both worlds: Members help make the world work better through the development of standards, while benefiting their personal and professional growth along the way.

Making a Difference

Membership in ASTM offers professionals the opportunity to deepen their expertise through participation in technical committees. On these committees, members meet with other experts in their field to develop industry standards. By participating on committees, members gain additional experience working with the technical aspects of their industry, while helping to shape the content of each individual standard.

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When asked why they first got involved with ASTM, most members mention a desire to make a positive impact in their industry. From creating safer products for consumers to enhancing performance within industries, standards create a lasting impact. And members want to be involved.

For Klas Boivie, chair of the subcommittee on additive manufacturing terminology (F42.91) and former ASTM board member, there was a clear moment when he knew he wanted to get involved with ASTM: “When I heard about the formation of F42 [committee on additive manufacturing], it was obvious to me that the development of international standards would be the critical step that had to be taken to enable industrialization and further the development of AM technology,” he explains. “I became a member of F42 the week after inauguration.”

For others, seeing the impact standards had on their industry made them want to get involved. Peter Sachs, head of airspace integration strategy with Zipline, is a member of the committee on unmanned aircraft systems (F38) and chair of the subcommittee on personnel training, qualification and certification (F38.03). He wanted to get involved with F38 to help “write good technical standards that could simultaneously meet the competing needs of both industry and aviation regulators.”

Creating standards is a collaborative process, Sachs says, which benefits the quality of the standards produced. “Our debates can certainly be lively, but we are all able to listen, learn, synthesize, and find consensus,” he explains. “Everyone knows there are no easy answers, but in working together, we often find a better way to articulate and address problems that impact everyone.”

For Sachs, even after years as a member, his initial reason for joining ASTM hasn’t changed. “I get to be one of the people sharing knowledge and mentoring many of F38’s new members so that we can continue collaboratively writing technical standards that can be used to enable safe UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] operations around the world.”

Network and Learn

Working on committees also gives members the opportunity to network with industry experts and leaders. Brenda Hogan, senior project engineer for DECA Consulting and member of the committee on consumer products (F15), says working with her committee has proven to be an important learning experience. “Networking with other members is an invaluable benefit,” she says. “When I have a question about a standard, I can reach out to a subcommittee chair, task group lead, or other group member to gain their insight.”

Eileen Snyder, regional technical coordinator for Pace Analytical Services and a member of ASTM’s environmental assessment, risk management and corrective action committee (E50), agrees. She says the many opportunities to learn and grow, both personally and professionally, are what drew her to membership. “ASTM offers a range of member benefits such as training opportunities, task group meeting support, and templates to assist in the standards-development process. ASTM also offers opportunities to reach beyond your core field of expertise and learn more about related technical topics.”

ASTM members range from early career professionals to subject matter experts, which, Snyder says, makes engaging with colleagues “both interesting and rewarding.” ASTM members bring many perspectives to the table, which exposes members to many new ideas. Snyder also notes that, “ASTM offers excellent opportunities to meet experienced professionals from the U.S. and internationally.”

Boivie also cited the opportunity to learn and network as an essential benefit to membership with ASTM. “Above all, there is this opportunity to work with, and contribute to, the developments of a new industry. I have had the privilege to work with some of the world’s best experts and include them in my professional network,” he says. “Working with standardization provides the opportunity to learn and develop within my field, and in addition, I had the honor to serve on the Board  of Directors, which was a fantastic learning opportunity.”

Emerging Professionals Program

Membership in ASTM can be a great way for emerging professionals to gain experience in their field and meet other industry professionals. That’s why ASTM offers the Emerging Professionals (EP) Program, which provides benefits for new members who have demonstrated the potential to become industry and committee leaders.

Benefits of the EP Program include:

— Airfare and accommodation for committee week;

— An EP workshop;

— Leadership development training;

— Participation in technical committee meetings with a committee mentor;

— Complimentary participation in CliftonStrengths Assessment.

Many current members, like Snyder, say they would recommend ASTM membership to emerging professionals in their fields. Membership, Snyder says, is a great way for emerging professionals “to connect with more experienced professionals outside of your organization and to get a big-picture view of your topic of interest. ASTM also provides young professionals with leadership opportunities as they are ready to step up.”

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Hogan also encourages emerging professionals in her field to become members because being involved in the development of standards will benefit their understanding of the requirements for developing a safer product. And, according to Hogan, the benefits are mutual.
“ASTM standards-development groups also benefit from new members, who provide different opinions and new points of view,” she says. “The collaboration between new and experienced members makes for a better standard.”

Sachs sees membership as essential for professionals starting out in their field. “ASTM provides a singular opportunity — through its face-to-face, in-person meetings — to develop deep professional relationships,” he says. “ASTM’s meetings facilitate collaboration, relationship building, and mentorship in a way that is otherwise difficult to achieve. It’s also an incredible place to learn more about your industry, the latest state of the art, and the challenges that others are tackling.”

Student Members

ASTM is committed to educating the next generation of industry professionals about standards, which is why college and university students can become members at no cost. Student membership provides students with the chance to learn about the standards-development process and to hear from experts in their chosen industry. Membership is also a great way for students to learn more about the latest research in the field in which they’ll work. Other benefits of student membership include the opportunity to:

— Compete for awards, scholarships, grants, and internships;

— Attend ASTM symposia for free to learn about the latest research and meet technical experts and business leaders in your field;

— Earn recognition through student research paper competitions (and open doors to getting published);

— Receive monthly ASTM eNews and online access to Standardization News (bimonthly magazine);

— Automatically qualify for a reduced professional membership fee ($25) your first year after graduation.

Standards Access

Members help develop standards that shape their industries, so it’s only fitting that membership provides access to ASTM’s library of standards. ASTM members receive one free volume of ASTM standards, as well as discounts on other publications.

Hogan says access to standards is essential to her professional work. “As consultants in the juvenile industry, we use ASTM standards almost every day, so it is beneficial to have free access to the updated juvenile standards for the year,” she explains. “The member website gives easy access to these standards.”

Standards help make the world safer and help professionals do their jobs. So it’s easy to see why members want to get involved: They want to make their industry strong, they want to learn within their fields, and, perhaps most of all, they want to help make a safer world.

For Boivie, the benefits of being part of the standards-development process are clear. “Working with ASTM is perhaps the greatest opportunity of my career to make a positive contribution to the development of new technology, industry growth, and international collaboration,” he says. “There can hardly be a better opportunity to build a professional network and learn new aspects of your professional field.” ●

Donovan Swift is managing editor of Standardization News.