Research + Tech

ASTM International to lead standardization center of excellence

ASTM International, along with other partners, has been selected by the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology to launch a center of excellence focused on supporting standardization of critical and emerging technologies.

The $15 million grant awarded to ASTM International will support the development of the Standardization Center of Excellence to focus on standards for critical and emerging technologies that support competitiveness and national security. The four areas of focus include:

• Pre-standardization engagement to ensure private sector participation
• Workforce development aimed at creating a pipeline of standards development professionals
• A program with NIST to identify gaps and accelerate standards development
• Creation of a data hub with tools and resources for all stakeholders involved in standards development

“We are confident ASTM International is the right place for the Standardization Center of Excellence,” says Andy Kireta, ASTM International’s president. “We have been on the forefront of deploying an integrated approach to advance critical and emerging technologies standardization by creating an ecosystem that links standards development and technology roadmaps and embeds standards early in the process. We look forward to working with NIST and our partners on such a consequential initiative that can build on this model and spur public-private collaboration to accelerate the development of industry-driven critical and emerging technologies standards.”

Tips for working with cobots

Australian researchers say employers incorporating collaborative robots, or cobots, in their workplaces can ease the transition for employees by taking three key steps, according to Safety+Health magazine.

A team from Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, identified worker concerns such as job insecurity and role ambiguity when cobots are introduced in workplaces.

“Workers often perceive cobots as potential threats to job stability, especially when collaboration between humans and machines is minimal; lower collaboration may be perceived as a strategy to automate work and replace operators with machines,” says Herman Tse, business professor at Monash University. “This perception can lead to increased stress and decreased trust in new technologies.”

The team recommends:

• Engaging workers. Involve employees from various units in the planning and implementation stages to
  address concerns and gather feedback.
• Enhancing consultation. Provide clear communication about how cobots will affect job roles and responsibilities, and include workers in decision-making processes.
• Conducting risk assessments. Develop comprehensive risk assessments to identify and address potential psychosocial hazards associated with cobots.