ISO (International Organization for Standardization) and ASTM International have signed an agreement to increase their cooperation in the development of International Standards for additive manufacturing – which refers to the process of joining materials to manufactured objects, usually layer upon layer, as opposed to “subtractive manufacturing” methods, such as machining.
The Partner Standards Development Organization (PSDO) cooperation agreement was approved at the ISO Council meeting which took place in September 2011, in New Delhi, India and signed by ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele and ASTM President James Thomas.
The agreement provides new opportunities for the two organizations to adopt and jointly develop International Standards that serve the global marketplace in the field of additive manufacturing. It specifies development approaches, as well as publication and distribution arrangements. The agreement is expected to optimize stakeholder resources in the development of standards on additive manufacturing where both ISO and ASTM have expertise, helping to shorten standards development time and the availability of this work to the market.
The decision to set up the PSDO agreement follows the recent creation of ISO technical committee ISO/TC 261, Additive manufacturing. ASTM’s committee F42, Additive manufacturing technology, already had important work in this area and it was decided that both groups would benefit from combining their expertise.
“ISO’s aim is to facilitate the international exchange of goods and services through the development of International Standards,” said ISO Secretary-General Rob Steele. “Adopting a spirit of inclusion and cooperation vis à vis other standardizing bodies can only increase the market relevance of our standards, while ensuring an effective and efficient use of resources.”
ASTM International President Jim Thomas commented, “As opportunities to forge collaborations in global standards development emerge in exciting new areas such as additive manufacturing, ASTM International stands ready to work with others to avoid duplication of effort and better serve our stakeholders,”
The agreement was approved by the respective governing bodies of ISO and ASTM in consultation with the ISO national member body where ASTM has its legal seat (ANSI).
