Electrical Standards 2000 NEMA Engineering Electrical Standards 2000 NEMA's Plan for Action in a Global Marketplace Members of the electrical manufacturing industry determined in 1926 that voluntary, consensus standards for electrical products would so benefit the industry and the public that they formed an association. Seventy years later, nearly 600 companies form one of the premier standards development organizations in the world. Standards enable customers to select from a range of safe, effective electrical products. They allow for compatability of various electrical and electronic parts and components. They level the playing field and promote fair competition by requiring all suppliers to meet similar requirements.
Standards hasten the implementation of new technology and reduce development costs.
And they break down barriers to trade, provide stability to an industry, and encourage trade in commerce. The purpose of a standard is not to make all things the same, or to discourage product differentiation, but to manage the differences and enable cost-effective and safe compatibility of electrical products. The rapid evolution of technology and the growing dependence of businesses on the international market make standardization that much more important and the mission of standards development organizations that much more critical. Standards are a market-responsive phenomenon, both nationally and globally. International standards, developed through a worldwide consensus process, describe requirements that meet the needs of global markets.