INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
We take continuing education, knowledge and excellence very seriously. That’s why we actively surround ourselves with with best sources of new and relevant information. We refer to these highly respected organizations listed below.
IAG Inventors Association of Georgia
A not-for-profit organization (1968), operating as a mixed group of experienced patent owners, inexperienced inventors, patent practitioners, marketing consultants, and other innovative persons who like to get together, monthly to share accomplishments and concerns, help promote invention and innovation, and provide guidance to members without breaching implied confidentiality.
IDSA Industrial Designers Society of America
A U.S. national association of the industrial design profession advancing the quality and positive impact of product design & development, furthering awareness, design quality and responsibility through professional development, promotional events and public education. IDSA to date has over 3,300 members and 28 chapters.
ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers
ASME is a not-for-profit membership organization that promotes the art, science, and practice of mechanical and multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe. Industries include; Construction & Building, Aerospace and Defense, Transportation, Automotive, Environmental Engineering, Energy, Manufacturing & Processing, Bioengineering and more. Founded in 1880, ASME has grown to more than 120,000 members in over 150 countries. The goal is helping the global engineering community develop solutions to benefit lives and livelihoods. ASME serves the technical community through quality programs in continuing education, training and professional development, codes and standards, research, conferences and publications, government relations and other forms of outreach.
SME Society of Manufacturing Engineers
The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (1932) (SME) is internationally recognized by manufacturing practitioners, companies and other organizations as a source for information, education and networking, dedicated to bringing people and information together to advance manufacturing knowledge. Through membership, you have access to technical publications, events, professional development resources, and chapter and technical community networking activities, keeping up to date on trends and technologies. ASME has 200 senior chapters and over 30,000 practitioners.
SPE Society of Plastics Engineers
The Society of Plastics Engineers (1942) (SPE) is where people from all parts of the industry collaborate around important issues and emerging technologies. Through membership you have access to continuing education, technical E-seminars, publications, and monthly chapter events, presentations and networking offering professional development, keeping up to date on trends and technologies.
HFES Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (1957) includes psychologists, engineers, industrial designers, and scientists, all of whom have a common interest in designing systems, products and equipment to be safe and effective for the people who operate and maintain them. The society promotes the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. It furthers serious consideration of knowledge about the assignment of appropriate functions for humans and machines, whether people serve as operators, maintainers, or users in the system, promoting systematic compatibility in the design of interactive product systems, machines, and environments to ensure their effectiveness, safety, and ease of performance. HFES has 4700 members representing 22 technical groups and numerous local and student chapters.
Compliance & Standards
Compliance and standards including governmental and industry organizations and associations both based in the United States and Internationally that are either mandated and regulated or voluntary, are part of the laws, constraints and protections used to qualify, monitor, regulate and maintain a level of quality control and safety of products we purchase and use. Standardization is a big part of the global library of knowledge while creating systems of communication and documentation that allow quick reference to the information and confirmation from authoritative sources.
Organization such as ANSI American National Standards Institute and ASTM International (American) Society for Testing and Materials and ISO International Standards Organization and IEC International Electrotechnical Commission all play critical roles in creating the applied design, mechanical and engineering standards and assembling the data base of information into formats that can be used to qualify and categorize the information to allow for easy access for development applications. These written standards are often referred to by legal , & Patent Attorneys, Scientists, Designers and Engineers. Government organizations like the DOT – Department of Transportation, FDA – Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration, USCPSC United States Consumer Product Safety Commission are based on national and state interrupted public law. These organizations have the power to enforce the law. ISO International Standards Organization, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and CE – Conformité Européenne the European Union – similar to US based UL. These mechanical design and testing standards are voluntarily accepted and use by industry organizations and product manufacturers to define a level of consumer safety.