The Scale Manufacturers Association (SMA) Membership Levels

The SMA has Three Membership Levels: Regular, Associate, and Corresponding.

Each level offers varying degrees of involvement allowing manufacturers to determine which one best suits their needs.

SMA conducts many activities of interest to members. One of the key activities involves monitoring the activities of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM). The NCWM consists of Weighing and Measuring Officials from all States and W&M jurisdictions of the United States. Every year committees within the NCWM develop and vote on technical changes that affect how the products you manufacturer, repair, or service must function. The SMA carefully tracks these developments and endeavors to provide the manufacturer's point of view on the advisability of these changes and/or alternate recommendation to allow the NCWM to accomplish its intent in the most technically accurate, economically feasible, and equitable manner. The three SMA membership levels are designed to allow you to be informed of proposed changes while they are in development and before they become effective, and to permit you to select the amount of participation you would like to have in the development of SMA inputs into the NCWM on these relevant issues.

Corresponding Membership - This level is perfect for those companies that need to be aware of potential regulation changes affecting their business but do not want to be involved in the actual SMA issue development process or attend meetings.

A Corresponding Membership carries a $750 annual fee. For this small fee, you receive a copy of the SMA Technical Committee's meeting minutes. The Technical Committee minutes include a description of proposed regulatory changes, background and committee discussions, and the final SMA positions on these items. The Technical Committee also develops industry standards and keeps itself apprised of developments in the international weights and measures regulatory environment, especially OIML and the European Union. That information is also contained in the minutes of the SMA Technical Committee.

Additionally, as a Corresponding Member your company name and a link to your Internet web site will be added to the SMA web site.

This membership level does not include eligibility to attend SMA meetings, but it does provide you with the comfort of being aware of potential changes in the national and international weights and measures environment that may affect your business before they become requirements.

Associate Membership - This membership level is ideal for companies that want to be aware of potential regulation changes and want to better understand what the impact of these changes would be to their business. It allows member representatives to participate in SMA discussions on how to improve proposed or actual regulations or why opposing them will be in your company's best interest.

The Associate Membership carries a $2500 annual fee. This modest fee provides you with all the benefits of a Corresponding Membership; plus, eligibility to attend all meetings and to participate in all Technical Committee discussions.

In addition, the Associate Membership level will permit you to participate in and receive the results of membership surveys. These surveys include such items as current health care costs along with technical related surveys.

This level of membership also includes participation in the SMA Conformity Assessment Program at regular membership prices.

This new membership level does not include eligibility to participate in the voting process or to hold an officer or committee position, but does offer the most benefits at a cost lower than that of a regular membership.

Regular Membership - This membership level offers all of the benefits of an Associate Member level plus eligibility to hold an officer or committee membership position and to vote on technical and business items. For Regular Membership level dues and additional information please see the SMA web site or contact Bob Reinfried at the SMA Headquarters. Phone: 239-514-3441 ext. 11.