NEW MILFORD, CT - The Wood Machinery Industry Association - WMIA - says it will partner with the American National Standards Institute on the administration of a new ANSI-accredited U.S./Technical Advisory Group for ISO/TC 39/SC 4, an international committee developing global standards for woodworking machinery.

The U.S. stakeholders participating on the U.S./Technical Advisory Group will be responsible for determining U.S. national consensus positions on any draft international standards under development in the ISO, or International Standards Organization, committee. A major focus for the U.S./Technical Advisory Group will be to ensure that the ISO standards are harmonized with existing American National Standards.

“The mission of the U.S./Technical Advisory Group is to thoroughly review the ISO standards for woodworking machines and produce an ISO standard which can later be nationally adopted as an ANSI-approved American National Standard,” says Mark Craig, WMIA’s ANSI Committee Chair.

WMIA will provide funding and technical support for the effort and ANSI will serve as the US/TAG administrating body, managing the day-to-day operations of the US/TAG and providing process and procedural guidance.

"Harmonizing U.S. and ISO standards will benefit the entire industry including machinery manufacturers, both domestic and abroad, as well as end users,” says John Park, WMIA president.

The first meeting of the U.S./Technical Advisory Group will take place April 28, 2014 the day prior to the start of the 2014 Woodworking Industry Conference, in San Juan, PR. Those interested in participating or learning more can contact Riccardo Azzoni at the WMIA office or Jason Knopes at ANSI ([email protected]).

The Woodworking Machinery Industry Association, based in New Milford, CT, is a trade association representing importers and distributors of woodworking machinery and ancillary equipment in North America. Founded in 1977, members include firms that import and distribute industrial woodworking machinery. 

The American National Standards Institute, based in Washington, DC, oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.