Standardization News

ASTM is diverse and open - on a grand scale. James A. Thomas reflects on how the organization has evolved while remaining true to removing barriers to participation.

Every era has its own language. Today, we use words like diversity and inclusivity to indicate the wide range of interests that make up the ASTM International membership. But what do they mean and how did they become part of our lexicon?

When ASTM formed its first technical committee on steel in 1898, its standards were intended to improve the U.S. railroad system. As years went by, our standards, due in large part to their quality, began to gain recognition in other parts of the world. It was also unusual and noteworthy at the time that ASTM, an "American" standards organization, had instituted an open-door policy regarding membership. To become an ASTM member, one needed only to have an interest in a standards project or be affected by its outcome, nationalities and affiliations notwithstanding.

Technical experts from other countries responded to this opportunity in such numbers that, by 2001, we were moved to change our name to ASTM International in recognition of our international base of volunteers.

Removing barriers to participation was the often-cited phrase during this time of amazing expansion. Recognizing that one of the most insidious barriers to participation was money, or the lack of it, we kept our membership fees low and required no registration and project fees. Instead, we opted to make the sale of standards our principal source of income. The fee structure made it possible, not only for more international members, but for more small businesses, government representatives and consumer groups to engage in ASTM's process.

We reduced language barriers by translating certain standards, hired and trained multilingual staff members and published versions of Standardization News in English, Spanish and Chinese. Students and their professors were attracted to ASTM by the student membership category and academic outreach programs.

The most formidable barriers - time and distance - were vanquished when ASTM developed internet-based platforms that made remote, 24/7 participation possible. With the breaking down of barriers came new streams of knowledge, technical perspectives from more than 140 countries and, consequently, standards with maximized levels of quality and relevance. Diversity and inclusiveness now characterized the ASTM community and made its standards global tools of commerce.

And then there was outreach. ASTM reached out to members and potential members scattered all over the globe, providing training and education, sending staff and board members to places near and far. We opened offices in Beijing, Brussels, Mexico City and Ottawa. We initiated memorandums of understanding with 88 national standards bodies and three regional bodies, extending ASTM membership to hundreds of people in developing nations. ASTM was open - diverse and inclusive on a grand scale.

Sometimes I think of our founders and what they would make of the words we use to describe the ASTM we know today, what they would think of its diversity, its inclusivity, its outreach, of the electronic capabilities we now employ to bring the world into the ASTM process.

What I might say to them, if I could, is that all of these words describe a principle they would recognize and might have called openness or opportunity. I would say that it is the principle that counts, more than the words we use to describe it. Words come and go. But, I would tell them, the principle has not. We have kept it secure and raised it to brand new levels. I think they would be proud.