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AIA Creates Sweeping Aerospace Standardization Strategic Forum


January 28, 2005

ARLINGTON, Va.—The Aerospace Industries Association Executive Committee approved the creation of the Strategic Standardization Forum for Aerospace to provide broad guidance to aerospace manufacturing standardization efforts. The action coincides with the release of the AIA's Report on the Future of Aerospace Standardization, which examines standardization systems and processes, defines requirements to support future growth of the industry, and recommends the creation of a standardization infrastructure.

"The initiative to develop this forum comes at a time when America's aerospace and defense industry is facing strategic issues that will affect standards,'' said AIA President and CEO John W. Douglass.

The 67-page standardization report targets several aspects of aerospace standardization, including overall complexity, global markets, business models and tools, civil aviation and defense standards.

The Preface to the report's Executive Summary states frankly: "Standards form the single largest source of technical data used in the global design, build and support of aerospace products. Yet the standards, and the processes used to develop and distribute standards, are not positioned to support a global industry."

Recommendations include:

  • Leaders from industry, government and standards developing organizations need to advocate integrated processes and complementary infrastructures to ensure that standards remain enablers for aerospace.
  • The aerospace industry needs to reduce the proliferation of standards and build an industry library containing a single suite of globally accepted standards, tests and conformity assessment processes. The "rationalization and reduction" of the number of infrastructures to support aerospace standardization is needed to focus resources on processes and organizations which work to ensure efficient development of aerospace standards.
  • The industry needs a respected leadership organization to provide technical and business integration in standards issues and solutions, gain the support of industry and government and be willing to accomplish aerospace standardization objectives, including application of resources, enlistment of senior management, resolution of overlapping scopes between aerospace standards organizations, lobbying, etc.
  • The "standards of choice" for the global aerospace industry must be recognized internationally, and where applicable, be made the basis for national, foreign, regional and international regulation and law. These standards should be open for input from all stakeholders in accordance with development principles set forth by the World Trade Organization.
  • The business models and tools used for the development, distribution, integration and use of aerospace standards need to ensure that:
    • Standards development is based on a business case or market need;
    • The standardization process is adequately funded and supported;
    • Tools and processes used to develop, maintain and disseminate standards utilize technology and the Internet to ensure an efficient, effective system involving all the stakeholders;
    • Standards are developed and disseminated so data can easily be integrated into product definition data or other life-cycle data streams, without data format or intellectual property issues.
  • The policies and procedures for assessing conformity of products and processes to standards require urgent improvement as qualification, certification and conformity assessment are major cost drivers. Additionally, the role of the International Civil Aviation Organization in international standardization needs to be recognized by the U.S.
  • Senior U.S. Department of Defense and aerospace industry leadership must recognize the extent to which the commercial aviation, space industries and defense industry depend upon the library of technical knowledge and discipline of configuration control embodied in the system of military specs and standards. DoD needs to proactively support and participate in the development of industry standards and utilize industry standards to the greatest extent practicable.
  • Industry, the NASA, DoD and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration urgently need to work together to ensure the development of globally recognized standards that support both government and commercial space interests. Development and use of industry standards which support U.S.-based technology must be a key strategic component of the aerospace industry's standardization strategy.

"The aerospace industry spends a significant amount of money on standards," said Boeing Senior Standards Specialist Laura Hitchcock, who will chair the new forum. "Managed well, it's an investment; without management, it's an expense."

Copies of the Future of Aerospace Standardization Report are available at www.aia-aerospace.org.

Source: Aerospace Industries Association.