Minimalist Wiki

AI-generated ELI5 & Minimalist Encyclopedia

American National Standards Institute

TLDR: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization that develops standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States. They make sure that things are consistent and tested the same way, so that American products can be used worldwide.

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary consensus standards in the United States. These standards cover a wide range of areas, including products, services, processes, systems, and personnel. ANSI also coordinates U.S. standards with international standards to ensure that American products can be used worldwide.

ANSI accredits standards that are developed by representatives of other standards organizations, government agencies, consumer groups, companies, and others. These standards ensure that the characteristics and performance of products are consistent, that people use the same definitions and terms, and that products are tested in the same way. ANSI also accredits organizations that carry out product or personnel certification in accordance with international standards.

The organization's headquarters are in Washington, D.C., and its operations office is located in New York City. ANSI is funded through the sale of publications, membership dues and fees, accreditation services, fee-based programs, and international standards programs.

ANSI has a wide range of members, including government agencies, organizations, academic and international bodies, and individuals. It represents the interests of more than 270,000 companies and organizations and 30 million professionals worldwide.

While ANSI itself does not develop standards, it oversees the development and use of standards by accrediting the procedures of standards developing organizations. ANSI accreditation signifies that the procedures used by these organizations meet the institute's requirements for openness, balance, consensus, and due process.

ANSI also designates specific standards as American National Standards (ANS) when it determines that they were developed in an equitable, accessible, and responsive environment. These voluntary consensus standards help speed up the market acceptance of products and improve their safety for consumers.

In addition to its work in the United States, ANSI promotes the use of U.S. standards internationally and advocates for U.S. policy and technical positions in international and regional standards organizations. ANSI is the official U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and it participates in their technical programs.

Overall, ANSI plays a crucial role in developing and promoting standards that ensure the safety, consistency, and compatibility of products and services in the United States and around the world.