Standards Development
The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) are industry standards for iron and stee manufacturing and grading. While both are concerned with iron and steel, these agencies have a lot of differences. One is that AISI is a North American association while ASTM is an international one.
AISI is one of the oldest trade associations in the United States. It was created to cater to the iron and steel industries’ need for information, investigation, and a forum where problems can be discussed and solved. It aims at influencing public policy, educating people, and shaping public opinion on the steel industry to sustain its growth. It is also concerned with making the steel industry safer and more profitable.
AISI is promoting the idea of securing a large market share in the world’s iron and steel industry. It aims at making the North American steel industry grow bigger, more profitable, and well respected in the international market.
ASTM, on the other hand, was founded in the late 1800s and has become one of the largest standards developers in the world. It is not only concerned with iron and steel but also of several other materials. Aside from these two materials, it is also concerned with nonferrous metal products, petroleum products, fossil fuels, paints and aromatics, textiles, rubber, plastics, electrical and electronics, water and environment technology, nuclear, solar and geothermal energy, medical services and devices.
It develops and produces standards for all these materials including other systems and services. Its members include manufacturers, users, and governments from more than 100 different countries. Its membership is voluntary, and its standards are the ones used in many US federal regulations.
Six Categories of ASTM Standards
- Standard Specification – defines the requirements.
- Standard Test Method – defines how the test is made and the precision of the results.
- Standard Practice – defines the sequence of operation.
- Standard Guide – provides information and options.
- Standard Classification – provides a grouping of materials with similar characteristics divided according to product, material, system, and service.
- Terminology Standard – provides an agreed definition of terms.
Not only are AISI and ASTM concerned with market expansion and development, they are also concerned with developing products that will answer to the needs of society. They aim at improving the lives of mankind and are aware of the interconnection between the environment, society, and the economy.
Summary
- AISI is the American Iron and Steel Institute while ASTM is the American Society for Testing and Materials.
- AISI operates in the United States and North America only while ASTM has members from more than 100 countries making it an international organization.
- AISI is concerned only with steel and iron products while ASTM is concerned with several other products including plastics, rubber, textiles, petroleum, and much more.
- The foremost concern of AISI is to make the North American steel and iron industry more profitable and safer while ASTM is concerned with regulating the development and production of different materials used by mankind.