Part of ANSI’s responsibilities as the U.S. member body to ISO includes accrediting U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), through the ANSI Executive Standards Council (ExSC), to serve as the national mirror committees in relation to ISO Technical Committees (TCs), Subcommittees (SCs), and Project Committees (PCs) developing standards. ANSI-accredited U.S. TAGs are comprised of the range of U.S. parties interested in and affected by specific ISO standards.
The primary purpose of U.S. TAGs is to develop and transmit, via ANSI, U.S. consensus positions and comments on activities and ballots of ISO TCs (and, as appropriate, SCs, PCs, and policy committees). These activities and ballots include the approval, reaffirmation, revision, and withdrawal of ISO standards. U.S. TAGs are also responsible for deciding on the delegates and experts to represent the U.S. at ISO committee meetings. And they may submit New Work Item Proposals (NWIPs) for consideration and ISO member voting regarding the development of new standards in a relevant ISO committee.
As a member of an ANSI-Accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to an ISO committee, you will be seen as a leader and expert in your field—both as an individual and for the organization you represent. Members are recognized on an international stage, and being involved in the standardization process is a way to showcase your involvement in the industry.
Those that contribute to the standards development process have the chance to make sure their voices are heard, both domestically and internationally. Staying on the sidelines risks letting your competitors and others set make decisions that impact your industry or area of interest without your input.
As the standardization process incorporates such a wide variety of stakeholders, you will gain experience in areas that you may not have expected. You will develop your negotiation skills while getting a bird’s-eye view of how your industry functions overall. Being part of the global standards process may also bring you technical knowledge in areas that were previously outside of your understanding.
TAG members interact with a wide array of stakeholders from including government, private companies, educational institutions, consumer representatives, and non-profits. Seeing how other organizations do business can change the way you approach your own objectives.
As a TAG member, you automatically get a leg up on emerging issues and obstacles that affect your industry, product line, or area of interest. You’ll gain insider knowledge and early access to information that will help you shape your company or organization’s agenda, develop networks, and act on priority areas.
Administrators of U.S. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) to ISO committees work with a wide array of stakeholders and leaders from industry, government, private companies, educational institutions, consumer groups, and other organizations on creative solutions to emerging issues and obstacles that affect your industry, product line, or area of interest.
U.S. TAG Administrators are appointed by ANSI, through the ANSI Executive Standards Council (ExSC), to be responsible for ensuring compliance with TAG procedures and with ISO's rules for participating internationally. As the point of contact for U.S. TAG members, you will have the chance to hear firsthand the questions and concerns they have about issues affecting your industry. Working closely with the teams developing standards will give you closer insight into how other organizations are applying standards to their own business models.
In the standards development process, stakeholders often come to the table with very different goals and objectives. TAG administrators learn to become experienced negotiators and communicators, finding common ground and building bridges between diverse and sometimes conflicting viewpoints.
In addition to taking on a leadership role yourself, you may also have the opportunity to nominate professionals to serve as TAG chairs.
As a leader of a U.S. TAG to ISO committee, you have a prominent position on the front lines of your industry’s standardization community. TAG Administrators and the organizations they represent are seen as experts and leaders in the field.
Standards and conformity assessment activities are inextricably linked to all facets of business. TAG members look to your leadership for guidance. They want to build their businesses, access new markets or preserve existing markets, increase safety and efficiency, and work together with the U.S. public sector in partnership to meet national priorities. Standards and conformity assessment activities can help you and your members achieve all of these goals.
