TAPPI Useful Methods Category to be Reactivated

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In 1991, the TAPPI Useful Methods were published in a book which was, at the time, intended to be the final publication of Useful Methods. This book has been available for purchase since that time because, although no new Useful Methods have been published since 1991, many of the ones previously published are still being used or referenced in the industry.

When the Quality and Standards Management Committee (Q&SMC) received a request that some type of test methods category be developed to allow publication of methods that could be used in a plant operation setting without having to go through the formal procedure to develop a TAPPI Standard, a task force was put together to study the request. The task force concluded that reinstating the Useful Method category might be the best way to accommodate this request. A survey went out to determine which UMs are currently being used in the industry.

The task force developed a set of guidelines for new UMs. The task force has also reviewed the list of UMs from the 1991 book and has determined which ones meet the new requirements and which do not. Those that are in compliance will remain in the "new" Useful Method category. The UMs that do not meet the new requirements will not be part of the UM set until a technical group within TAPPI can revise it and submit it for republication under the new rules.

A spreadsheet was put together that lists the UMs along with the recommendations from the UM Task Force. This spreadsheet is available for anyone to review; to obtain the spreadsheet, send a message to the Standards Manager at standards@tappi.org.

Any TAPPI members who may have an interest in revising and reinstating any UMs that may be pulled from the set should notify the Standards Manager (standards@tappi.org) of their interest in reinstating the Useful Method. The minimum requirement is that a group of at least three TAPPI members from different organizations must agree to have their names listed as contributors to the UM. When the revision and the group have been properly submitted, it will become a part of the UM set.

The UM Task Force encourages all TAPPI members to consider participating in bringing back Useful Methods that are needed in the industry as well as developing new ones under the new guidelines. The Standards Manager can provide any additional information upon request. More information will be forthcoming in the next few months in the STAR newsletter as to the progress toward adding this new UM collection to TAPPI’s set of technical documents.

TAPPI Standards guidelines require that all TAPPI members receive notification of any proposed new Standard or TIPs. This message is being sent to you because you are a TAPPI member; have purchased TIPs or Standards products from TAPPI; or because you have previously expressed interest in this topic.

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