Strategic Standards Management

Our staff have extensive experience in the following aspects of standardisation:

• Chair Technical Groups
• Standards Drafting
• Influencing Standards development at an International, Regional and National level
• Product conformity to standards
• Developing standardised test specifications (PICS and TSS&TP)
• Advise on best technology / standards strategy
• Direct representation within Standards organisations and fora at both a technical and management level
• Management and co-ordination within Industry Fora to support the production of technical specifications, driven by commercial business models
• Project Management in relation to standardisation activities

The majority of our senior staff have held official positions (Director-General, Chairman, Vice-chairman, Secretary and Rapporteur) within Standards Bodies and Fora. They have also been seconded as experts to Specialist Task Forces within ETSI, where specific deliverables of the standardisation activities needed to be urgently completed.

Standards Interpretation

Suppliers and designers are faced with an ever increasing array of complex communications requirements, where the true interpretation of these is often only gained through a working knowledge and practical experience.

ETS can offer its extensive experience of working in these areas and is therefore able to provide an in-depth understanding of these requirements.

ETS is able to provide English translations of a country's standards, although our clients usually request a précis of the requirements within a synopsis report.

Structured Standards Participation

Strategic Standards Management involves recognising that standards are more a business issue than a technical one. Manufacturers often face the problem of following their competitors in the race to implement and comply with the latest standards, those organisations which lead the field are there because they were ahead of the standards making activity. It is a simple fact that those organisations that participate in the Standards making process are successful because they are proactive.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) is a specific area where standards strategy plays a key commercial incentive for those with patented / patentable technology. Global Standards are an essential part of communicating requirements worldwide to customers and suppliers.

Global standards are a fundamental tool in developing marketing strategies:

• What new products can be developed to standards that already exist?
• What new standards are under development that affect existing products?
• How can new standards be used to enlarge existing or create new market spaces?

The benefits to be gained by the strategic management of standards participation can be generally categorized as a tangible profitability resulting from increased sales of components and services, and intangible benefits arising from an increased understanding of both user needs and general industrial and competitive directions. Both categories are difficult to quantify, but there is no doubt that planned participation is more to a company's advantage than against it. There is also no doubt that failure to explicitly manage standards participation in the formal strategic planning and global design review processes will result in a competitive disadvantage in today's global marketplace.

ETS is and always has been very much involved in the Standards making activities at a National, European and International level. ETS has also represented and advised organisations that are regarded as among the most proactive of Standards makers.

Contact us if you are considering Standards participation and need to develop a programme of where to invest your valuable resources to give the best return.

Contact us if you are already actively participating in the Standards arena, but need further expertise or advice on a particular topic.

Whatever your needs, ETS is available to offer guidance and direct advice on many standards related topics.