Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade


Book Description

Mandated standards used for vehicle airbags, International Organization for Standards (ISO) standards adopted for photographic film, de facto standards for computer software--however they arise, standards play a fundamental role in the global marketplace. Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of the link between standards, product testing and certification, and U.S. economic performance. The book includes recommendations for streamlining standards development, increasing the efficiency of product testing and certification, and promoting the success of U.S. exports in world markets. The volume offers a critical examination of organizations involved in standards and identifies the urgent improvements needed in the U.S. system for conformity assessment, in which adherence to standards is assessed and certified. Among other key issues, the book explores the role of government regulation, laboratory accreditation, and the overlapping of multiple quality standards in product development and manufacturing. In one of the first treatments of this subject, Standards, Conformity Assessment, and Trade offers a unique and highly valuable analysis of the impact of standards and conformity assessment on global trade.




Encyclopedia of Associations


Book Description

A guide to more than 22,000 national and international organizations, including: trade, business, and commercial; environmental and agricultural; legal, governmental, public administration, and military; engineering, technological, and natural and social sciences; educational; cultural; social welfare; health and medical; public affairs; fraternal, nationality, and ethnic; religious; veterans', hereditary, and patriotic; hobby and avocational; athletic and sports; labor unions, associations, and federations; chambers of commerce and trade and tourism; Greek letter and related organizations; and fan clubs.







Small Business For Dummies


Book Description

The leading resource for starting and running any small business Want to start the small business of your dreams? Want to breathe new life into the one you already have? Small Business For Dummies provides authoritative guidance on every aspect of starting and growing your business, from financing and budgeting to marketing, management and beyond. This completely practical, no-nonsense guide gives you expert advice on everything from generating ideas and locating start-up money to hiring the right people, balancing the books, and planning for growth. You'll get plenty of help in ramping up your management skills, developing a marketing strategy, keeping your customers loyal, and much more. You'll also find out to use the latest technology to improve your business's performance at every level. How start-up and established small businesses can use the Small Business Jobs Act to their advantage Enhanced and expanded coverage on using technology in your small business Hiring employees using online resources including LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media sites New coverage of the recent health care bill, health savings accounts, and their implications for small business Updated coverage of the best places to get small business loans What it takes to achieve and maintain success in an ever-changing economic landscape You have the energy, drive, passion, and smarts to make your small business a huge success. Small Business For Dummies provides the rest.










Domestic Commerce


Book Description




Encyclopedia of Interest Groups and Lobbyists in the United States


Book Description

A comprehensive general reference on major American interest groups. This encyclopedia provides information on the lobbies and interest groups that dominate modern American politics. It provides descriptions of 13 categories of groups, followed by A-Z entries on the groups within that category.