This Day in History: ANSI Audit Program Celebrates 25 Years
4/01/2021
ANSI’s Audit Program celebrates 25 years today. Launched on April 1, 1996, the program serves as a quality assurance review of an ANSI-accredited standards developer’s (ASD) compliance with its accredited procedures and current ANSI requirements.
The program is governed by the ANSI Essential Requirements: Due process requirements for American National Standards and the ANSI Auditing Policy and Procedures, and is implemented under the auspices of the ANSI Executive Standards Council (ExSC) – the ANSI Program Oversight Committee that accredits standards developers, among other responsibilities. The audit provides an independent mechanism that serves as one of the key “checks and balances” that characterize the ANS process.
ANSI’s Audit Program focuses on three main goals:
- To increase the value of the American National Standards (ANS) designation and accreditation of standards developers
- To ensure compliance with ANSI’s procedural requirements and the accredited procedures of the standards developer
- To aid the developer in improving operational efficiency and identifying potential non-compliances
ANSI accredits some 240 standards developers, and collectively, these developers sponsor nearly 13,000 ANS in nearly every sector. Since the program’s inception, some 880 audits have taken place.
Many ASDs have commented on the value of the periodic review and analysis offered via the audit program. Chris Dubay, vice president and chief engineer, NFPA noted, “The ANSI Audit Program not only ensures that each SDO follows their accredited procedures, but it gives an added level of confidence in the overall use, acceptance, and adoption of ANSI accredited standards.”
He added that the ANSI Essential Requirements are based on the foundational principles that any party has a right to participate, express a position, be given due consideration, and have a right to appeal, ultimately the ANSI Audit Program ensures that is happening with all ANSI accredited standards development organizations.
“The NFPA standards development process meets or exceeds all aspects of the Essential Requirements and the ANSI Audit Program is a big part in ensuring that NFPA’s open and transparent process is the best it can be for all participants.”
Jessica Evans, director of standards at NSF International noted, “The Audit Program has built credibility and rigor into the ANSI-accredited standards development process for many years. NSF International, along with other standards development organization participants, use this program to continuously improve our processes and ensure compliance with the requirements. Thank you for helping us create the best environment for our stakeholders.”
Jay Moskowitz, director of the ANSI Audit Program, noted “One of the great benefits of the Audit Program is the objective analysis provided by the ANSI auditor – first, by evaluating the developer’s process, and second, by recommending to the audited organization new methods to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness and current ways to ensure procedural compliance with ANSI’s Essential Requirements.”
The ANSI Audit Program is continually evolving, and as such, ANSI and the ANSI Executive Standards Council (ExSC) welcome comments and suggestions related to its further development. Please contact Jay Moskowitz at [email protected] or [email protected].
Learn more about the ANSI Audit Program.
