National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory federal agency in the United States Department of Commerce. The agency was founded in 1901 and was called the National Bureau of Standards up until 1988 when the name was changed to NIST (NIST, 2021). The agency’s mission involves enhancing measurement science, technology, and quality standards as a way of promoting innovation and encouraging industrial competitiveness. Its activities greatly help to improve economic security in the United States as well as improving the quality of life for all its citizens.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology affects my life in that, it determines the nature of competition and level of innovation that exists in the United States. The agency provides the government, different individuals, and organizations with standard reference materials containing information and guidelines on what procedures to use; standards for processes and measurements; and quality control (NIST, 2021). If well implemented, the information can help organizations, the government, and individuals to innovate their products and services, allowing them to take advantage of the various opportunities that exist in the environments they operate in. The agency therefore greatly influences the innovation and production of new products that I depend on every day.
Another effect is tied to how NIST influences industrial competitiveness. Organizations that operate in the same environment rely on features like the quality of products, pricing, and level of innovation to encourage customers to pick their products over those from competitors (Sargent, 2020). By promoting positive industrial competitiveness, customers get to benefit from high-quality products set at reasonable prices. As a consumer, I am provided with access to high-quality products at reasonable prices. Another advantage is that the organizations keep innovating their products and services and this makes it easier to satisfy the customers' needs and wants. The products and services that are made available to me as a consumer are usually respective to my needs and have relevant value.
One change that I would like to see in the National Institute of Standards and Technology has to do with the nature of the standard reference materials. Oftentimes, the laboratory programs provided by NIST are too complex for small businesses. The programs, therefore, favor big organizations more than small businesses because they have the resources needed to act on the guidelines provided. Since innovation greatly relies on access to information fast and with ease, the programs give big organizations a competitive advantage (Sargent, 2020). They also make market entry because large organizations are assisted to be more innovative thus forcing new business ventures to either keep innovating their products or close shop. To remedy this, NIST could design programs that target both large and small businesses. Providing different laboratory programs for small businesses will give them a better chance to remain competitive as the guidelines provided will be tailored to the scope of their abilities.
The products and services provided by different organizations greatly influence how people live their lives. Innovations are important because they push companies to constantly improve their products and services to make them more efficient. Encouraging competition further ensures that organizations are constantly seeking better ways to attract new customers and this, in turn, improves the ease and lowers the cost of accessing them. The input from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, therefore, promotes innovation while still ensuring that a respectable standard of quality is maintained.
References
National Institute of Standards and Technology, (2021) “About NIST” United States Department of Commerce, retrieved from, https://www.nist.gov/
Sargent F, (2020) “The National Institute of Standards and Technology: An appropriate overview” Congressional Research Service, retrieved from, https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43908.pdf
