Although the organization was originally known as the , it changed its name to ASTM International in 2001 to reflect its global scope and influence. Today, ASTM standards are used and accepted worldwide in research and development, product testing, quality systems, and commercial transactions.
ASTM standards are not written by the organization’s staff, but rather by its members. The process follows the principles of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) guidelines for international standardization: norma astm
Despite its American origins, the is now a global phenomenon. Over 12,000 ASTM standards are used in 135+ countries. Many nations lack the resources to write their own material specifications, so they adopt ASTM standards as national norms (e.g., Mexico uses NOM-ART, which often mirrors ASTM). Although the organization was originally known as the