News Detail

Getting Ready for Our Second Century (Part I)

2/1/2000

Just what is ACI?

As a relative newcomer to the concrete industry, I recently explored this question, hoping to gain some insight into the organization and its future. As an engineer, I’ve known for quite a while that codes and standards pertaining to concrete structures are published by the Institute, but until last year, I never really thought much about ACI beyond this role.

Now, however, after more than a year of extensive interaction with the volunteers and staff who make ACI work, I have a much richer perspective.

Basically, I’ve discovered that ACI is an association of people who have chosen to work toward a common purpose—to improve the design, construction, manufacture, use, and maintenance of things made from concrete and related materials. It’s a big world out there! What can an engineer, architect, educator, contractor, owner, or public official do to improve the concrete world? As it turns out, quite a lot, if they band together under the Institute’s flag.

Since its founding in 1904, ACI has grown to include nearly 20,000 members in its international and local chapter organizations worldwide. In any given year, you will find over 3000 of these members directly serving ACI through participation in elected office or by volunteering on committees. Others serve indirectly through submittal of papers, articles, and other means, including financial support.

The technical organization of ACI, which includes more than 120 committees under the Technical Activities Committee umbrella, brings together expertise in virtually every aspect of concrete materials and structures to document the knowledge that is the Institute’s primary product. To place the importance of this product into perspective, it is interesting to note that, in the past 30 years, more than 500,000 copies of the 318 Building Code have been disseminated. In addition, ACI’s Educational Activities Committee oversees the delivery of knowledge by organizing and managing more than 100 seminars annually. Then, we have the Certification Programs Committee and its seven certification committees—the result here is industry-standard programs with over 100,000 certified workers to date. Clearly, ACI is having an impact on concrete.

Throughout essentially the entire 20th Century, ACI has developed traditional products such as documents, publications, conferences, seminars, and other means of disseminating information. Most of these have been developed through structured processes such as committee consensus and editorial activities. This basically is an operating model that could be termed “product-based, process-driven.” It all has to do with knowledge and the best way to disseminate it. Information is becoming more plentiful each day; efficient, customized delivery is now taken for granted. But knowledge gained is the major element of this model—not how it is delivered. In the 21st Century, ACI will need to focus on generation, development, delivery, and application of knowledge—this is the “knowledge-based/market delivery” model. Now, the question becomes—how does ACI get there from here?

Without question, the traditional processes have served the Institute well. But, can ACI continue to rely on such means? As the new century opens, should these traditional methods be discarded in favor of high-tech communications? Or is the answer a blend of both—traditional 20th Century methods blended with customized information packages such as are now possible?

Obviously, careful thought and adequate answers are needed before ACI marks its centennial in 2004, not far away, and begins its second century of “progress through knowledge.” I’ll have more to say about 21st Century technology and challenges in next month’s memo.

James G. Toscas,
Executive Vice President,
American Concrete Institute

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