The role of an expert on a standards committee: a look behind the scenes

Standards are the silent force behind the quality and safety of products and services. But how do these standards come about? And why is it attractive for many specialists to contribute to standards development? In this article, we explain what the work of an expert entails.

Why participate in standards development?

For a specialist in a particular field, participation in standards development offers several advantages:

• Influence: By actively contributing to the development of standards, experts can help shape the future of their industry. This ensures that standards align with industry practice and needs.
• Expanding knowledge: Collaborating with other professionals within a committee offers the opportunity to discover new insights and trends, contributing to your personal and professional growth.
• Network expansion: Joining a standards committee opens doors to a wide network of like-minded professionals and organizations, which can lead to new collaborations and opportunities.
• Competitive advantage: Companies represented on standards committees have early insight into emerging standards, allowing them to proactively anticipate and adapt to market changes.

The pathway to being an expert on a standards committee

Step 1: Express interest

An expert wishing to contribute to standards development can contact the NBN, which is responsible for standards development in Belgium together with the sectoral operators. This can easily be done through the NBN website, where information can be found on current projects and committees.

Step 2: Selection and invitation

The candidate is expected to have sufficient professional knowledge to participate. However, NBN does not evaluate the candidate's expertise or experience. After registering for an existing or new committee, the expert will receive an invitation to participate.

Step 3: Active or passive participation

The expert has the freedom to choose to what extent they contribute to the development, depending on their priorities and available time. The expert can be an observing member of the committee, receiving documents and following discussions. Or they can actively participate in the meetings, providing input on draft standards, working with other members to reach consensus, and then participating in the voting rounds. This process requires not only technical knowledge but just as important is the ability to collaborate and compromise.

The standards development process: from idea to publication

1. Initiative phase: A need for a new standard is identified, often by industries, consumers or governments.
2. Assignment: the standard is assigned to the international or European technical committee responsible for the domain of the standard
3. Development of the standard: The working group prepares, discusses and revises the draft until consensus is reached.
4. Public Consultation: The draft is made public for feedback from stakeholders outside the committee. (Only for Belgian and European standards.)
5. Finalization and approval: After feedback is processed, the standard is finalized and submitted for approval.
6. Publication: The approved standard is published and made available for implementation.

Time investment and commitment

Developing a standard is an intensive process that typically takes 18 to 36 months. Experts invest time in meetings, reviewing documents and formulating responses. The exact time investment varies by project and the complexity of the standard. However, it remains the choice of the experts themselves how much time they wish to devote to standards development.

After publication: implementation and revision

After publication, the expert's work is not over. It is essential to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the standard in practice. Feedback from industry may lead to revisions or updates to the standard to keep it relevant and effective. Anyway, the standard is evaluated every 5 years.

Conclusion

Participation in a standards committee offers experts the opportunity to actively shape their field, expand their network and contribute to the overall quality and safety within their industry. Although the process takes time and dedication, the personal and professional benefits are significant. For specialists considering participating in standards development, NBN offers the support and resources necessary to take this step.

‍