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OCR for page 289
CFunctions of NIST
NIST STATUTORY CHARTER
Unlike most federal laboratories that derive their missions from those of their parent agencies, NIST
is chartered by Congress in broad and comprehensive legislation. First written in 1900 and signed into
law in 1901, the NIST authorizing legislation is periodically updated. In 1988, in a sweeping rewrite of
the authorization, the Congress placed NIST in the forefront of federal efforts to improve the use of
technology in the competition for global markets.
The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 augmented NIST's functions and capabili-
ties. Specifically, NIST received new capability to carry out its mandate to help private-sector firms
capitalize on advanced technology. The act also reconfirmed the importance of NIST's existing capa-
bilities. It asserted that NIST's measurements, calibrations, and quality assurance techniques were the
underpinning of U.S. commerce, technological progress, improved product reliability, improved manu-
facturing processes, and public safety. NIST continues to have a unique responsibility to promote
economic growth by working with industry to develop and apply technology, measurements, and stan-
dards.
The functions and programs enacted through this legislation complement the existing functions and
programs extremely well, and have increased dramatically the leverage and economic impact of the
Institute.
The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act directed NIST
to modernize and restructure to augment its unique ability to enhance the competitiveness of American
industry while maintaining its traditional function as lead national laboratory for providing the measure-
ments, calibrations, and quality assurance techniques that underpin United States commerce, technolog-
ical progress, improved product reliability and manufacturing processes, and public safety; to assist
NOTE: This appendix, which includes information on NIST's statutory charter and mission, was provided by NIST in the
course of the fiscal year 2003 reviews and thus was not authored by the Board on Assessment of NIST Programs.
289
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290
APPENDIX C
private-sector initiatives to capitalize on advanced technology; to advance, through cooperative efforts
among industries, universities, and government laboratories, promising research and development proj-
ects that the private sector can optimize for commercial and industrial applications; and to promote
shared risks, accelerated development, and pooling of skills that will be necessary to strengthen Ameri-
ca's manufacturing industries.
In the enumeration of NIST's functions in the act, two are of particular note as they reinforce the
. . . .
existing mission:
(1) to assist industry in the development of technology and procedures needed to improve quality, to
modernize manufacturing processes, to ensure product reliability, manufacturability, functionality, and
cost-effectiveness and to facilitate the more rapid commercialization, especially by small- and medium-
sized companies throughout the United States, of products based on new scientific discoveries in fields
such as automation, electronics, advanced materials, biotechnology, and optical technologies;
(2) to develop, maintain, and retain custody of the national standards of measurement, and provide the
means and methods for making measurements consistent with those standards, including comparing
standards used in scientific investigations, engineering, manufacturing, commerce, industry, and educa-
tional institutions with standards adopted or recognized by the Federal Government.
MISSION OF NIST
NIST's primary mission is to promote U.S. economic growth by working with industry to develop
and apply technology, measurements, and standards. It carries out this mission through a portfolio of
r
tour mayor programs:
· The Measurements and Standards Program promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by
providing technical leadership for the Nation's measurement and standards infrastructure, and assuring
the availability of essential reference data and measurement capabilities.
· The Advanced Technology Program stimulates U.S. economic growth by developing high risk
and enabling technologies through industry-driven cost-shared partnerships.
· The Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program strengthens the global competitiveness of
smaller U.S.-based manufacturing firms by providing information and assistance in adopting new, more
advanced manufacturing technologies, techniques, and business best practices.
· The National Quality Program enhances the competitiveness, quality, and productivity of U.S.
Organizations for the benefit of all citizens, manages the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and
provides global leadership in promoting quality awareness.
Representative terms from entire chapter:
manufacturing processes
