What is happening to technical committees?
The AGMA Technical Division Executive Committee, TDEC, is restructuring AGMA technical committees to better serve the industry. The new structure will replace existing topic-specific committees with project-specific working groups that will be formed to develop the deliverable of each project. This provides the TDEC with the flexibility to pivot resources quickly, enabling AGMA to provide technical assistance to the industry as challenging issues arise. This is in contrast to the current system where the TDEC evaluation of possible new projects is limited to the pre-determined, subject-specific committees.
When dOES the switch take place?
September 15, 2023.
How dOES the switch happen?
The switch to the new system will be implemented by project priority, i.e. time sensitive projects such as the 2023 reaffirmations of five standards. If needed, specific project working groups will be formed to revise any of these standards per results of their reaffirmation.
What happens to the current members of the existing technical committees?
Nothing. They remain members of the AGMA main pool of technical experts that is used to populate the current subject-specific technical committees. Once the new project-based structure is implemented, the existing members will be joined, in a new project-based working group, by other interested experts who respond, in the affirmative, to a call for experts, to begin work on a new project.
It should be noted that all members, existing or new, will be asked to review the latest edition of AGMA 999, Operating Instructions for AGMA Technical Division, familiarize themselves with the new guidelines regarding project participation.
What happens to my access to the online portal?
Nothing. All members who currently have access to the AGMA portal (Govenda) will keep their access. If you need help with access to the Govenda portal contact tech@agma.org.
What happens to the ongoing or active projects?
Nothing. They will continue to completion with current project scopes and leadership. The switch to the new system will commence after the conclusion of the project and publication of the subject document.
What happens to committee archives (meeting minutes, working drafts, supporting documents)?
Nothing. All committee documents including meeting minutes, working drafts, and supporting documents are (will be) maintained per guidelines & requirements outlined in the AGMA Policy and Practice Guide and in accordance with AGMA’s obligations as a standards developing organization, SDO, accredited by ANSI.
How are new projects initiated in the new system?
The same way they have been in the current, committee-based system. The TDEC reviews and approves all potential new projects. Once the TDEC approves a project, a project-based working group will be formed from the interested experts from “AGMA’s pool of experts” as well as those from the industry at large to begin working on the new project by first determining the project scope and the timeline for its development.
How are documents reaffirmed in the new system?
The reaffirmation of standards will be carried out the same way they are currently, in accordance with ANSI approval schedule and requirements. The reaffirmation of Information Sheets will be done directly by the TDEC.
How will ISO work be handled in the new system?
There will be one “standing” US TAG to ISO TC 60. The new TAG will include the current US TAG 2a plus any US based AGMA members interested in ISO TC 60 topics. This body will handle all ISO topics. The expansion will be carried out via an invitation sent to “AGMA pool of experts”.
How are Requests for Interpretation and technical questions answered in the new system?
Questions received by AGMA go through different levels of escalation depending on their nature. Simple comments are answered by AGMA staff, others may be answered by AGMA staff asking the project leader responsible for the document, or other members that worked on the document to reply. For more substantial comments a working group will be formed from those that worked on the original document, and other interested experts, to determine a formal response. The formal response will be reviewed by the TDEC before it is shared with the commenter and posted on the AGMA website.
Please see the latest edition of AGMA 999 for more details.