American National Standards Institute

The American National Standards Institute or Ansi has served as the administrator and coordinator of the United States private sector voluntary standardization system for 80 years. It was founded in 1918 by five engineering societies and three government agencies and remains a private, non-profit organization.

Ansi's primary goal is the enhancement of global competitiveness of U.S. business and the American quality of life. Towards this end, it promotes and facilitates standards and conformity assessment systems and also promotes their integrity. Ansi itself does not develop American national standards. The institute represents the interests of its members, numbering around 1400, through its headquarters in New York City, and its satellite office in Washington, D.C.

The Institute ensures that its guiding principles -- consensus, due process and openness -- are followed by the more than 175 distinct entities currently accredited under one of the federation’s three methods of accreditation (organization, committee or canvass). In 1996 alone the number of American national standards approved increased by nearly 4% to a new total of 13,056.

Ansi's accredited try and address the critical trends of technological innovation, marketplace globalization and regulatory reform.