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Standards and Industry Self-Regulation
Rosenberg, Ernest S.
19/1  (Fall 1976): 79-90

Private standards-development and certification programs have been studied from the perspective of the participants or users of such programs but there has been little if any movement toward combining these perspectives to arrive at a comprehensive overview of these programs by those who are responsible for formulating policy in either the public or the private sector. The voluntary, consensus standards-development system is essential to the, smooth operation of commerce. If the system did not exist, dominant firms could dictate the design of products in their industries. Producers of superior products would have difficulty penetrating new markets by demonstrating the superiority of their products, since standard test methods either would not exist or the generally accepted test should be the test used by the industry leader. The potential for abuse under a system in which one company or a few companies could dictate an industry's standards is mind-boggling. Voluntary consensus standards developed with broad participation are to be preferred. It is hoped that some contribution has been herein made to begin the process of developing solutions.

 

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