7 Reasons to Join an Association or Standards Organization Now

Associations and standards organizations bring together companies and professionals for a joint purpose, such as expanding industry knowledge and sharing best practices, but they offer so much more. Here are seven reasons your organization should consider joining an association or standards organization related to your industry.  

1. Increased credibility
   As the saying goes, you are the company you keep. Members of associations and standards organizations benefit from increased credibility. Your company has opportunities to network with the leaders in your industry and putting aside competition to work together for a singular purpose shows potential customers your committed to their industry and your customers. Belonging to a trade organization can also represent a desire to strive for compliance, growth and improvement, and community.  
2. Conferences and networking
   Associations typically host events, bringing their members together for trade shows and conferences. These events provide a space for industry professionals to share knowledge, learn from subject matter experts, network, and stay up to date with industry trends. Trade shows also allow member companies to showcase their offerings while connecting with potential users and partners. These can be invaluable experiences for companies growing in their fields. For example, SPIE brings together photonics professionals at events such as its collocated Photonics West, Celebration of Women in Optics, and AR | VR | MR conferences and trade shows for collective discussion and presentation of the latest optics and photonics technologies.  
3. Educational opportunities
   Another common practice among associations and standards organizations is providing educational opportunities that help their members gain insight into their industries or grow their businesses. From conferences with expert presentations to webinars, there are many opportunities for personal and professional growth. For example, the Association for Manufacturing Technology hosts a webinar series that covers topics including economic forecasts, benefits of reshoring, and even lead generation techniques.  
4. Showcase expertise
   Membership in associations opens opportunities to showcase your unique subject matter expertise through speaking engagements and publications. Whether digitally via webinars or at conferences and trade shows, members are often given priority to present relevant topics to the overall community. Additionally, many associations seek out white papers and journal articles to publish for the benefit of their members. Organizations such as IEEE promote opportunities for its members. The association even has a portal for members to search for periodicals and conferences to which they can submit scholarly articles and presentations. 
5. Influence industry policies through collective advocacy 
   Associations and standards organizations often play a role in advocating for their industries on Capitol Hill. Through membership, organizations and individuals have an opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns. For example, Association for Advancing Automation (A3) President Jeff Burnstein recently drafted an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump advocating for the U.S. manufacturing and automation industry. Collective efforts such as this can help drive change beneficial to an industry. 
6. Access to resources
   Many associations and standards organizations offer additional resources to their members. These resources can include market research, industry news coverage, marketing opportunities, and so much more. For exampleA3 provides its members with market intelligence, including statistics, bench marking, and industry reports to help inform important business decisions. Other resources include a career center, newsletters, and videos. 
7. Improved operations
   Standards organizations can provide operational cost savings through established operating standards, which are designed to improve quality control, increase operational efficiency, and improve risk mitigation. By joining organizations, companies and professionals can contribute to best practices for safety and compliance, helping their peers and those outside the organization to operate at the highest, and often safest, efficiencies. For example, the National Fire Protection Association establishes codes and standards for fire and electrical safety. These standards are consensus based and peer reviewed — allowing contribution to these practices — while also helping users ensure safe installations, operations, and maintenance. 

Expanding your company's membership in associations and standards organizations is a great way to get involved in and improve your knowledge and operations in your industry. Now, go get involved with your community! If you have any questions about which organizations are the best choice for your company, contact us today.