Women in Standards Development: A Conversation With Lin Xing, Technical Director, SEARI

Word to the W.I.S.E. #whystandardsmatter

One of the key indicators of the move toward gender responsive standards is the increased participation of women experts in decision making and technical bodies. Towards that effort, we travel today to Shanghai to speak to Miss Lin Xing Director Standards and Institute of Testing Technology, Shanghai Electrical Apparatus Research Institute.

She is part of multiple UL Standards and Engagement Standards Technical Panels, or STPs today.

You can read the transcript of that Word to the W.I.S.E. interview with Ling Xing here:

Host: Thank you, Ms. Lin Xing, for being part of the Word to the W.I.S.E. conversation.

[00:00:51] Ms Lin Xing: Thank you, host. I'm very happy have this opportunity, attend this program. Women play a very important role in the standardization and I'm waiting to share my standardization story with you today.

[00:01:08] Host: Thank you so much. And you are an esteemed member of UL Standards & Engagement's STPs, could you share your experience being part of these panels?

[00:01:19] Ms Lin Xing: Okay, first as you all know, UL Standards has a long history and widely used. Each UL standards will set up a group with nine interesting characters attends, including producer, supply chain, commercial industrial use, general, AHJ/regulator government, testing standards, customers, and international delegate. So that means if you are related with the standard Standardize Objects, you could attend the working group, which is called STP In UL. For me, I attended two STPs. One is STP 3300 Robot for service, communication, information education, and entertainment. The other is STP 1740. That is for the robot and robotic equipment. In this two STPs, I worked as a chief member in this group and participate in the discussion of standards technical contents. Mm, why I joined these two STPs. That needed to send to Jessie Guo. Jessie Guo, who is a contact person of UL in China, and she attend some standards meeting which was hold from my side, so we know each other and when there some new standard projects starts Jessie Guo introduced the CCDS system to me and new projects. For my experience, the STP groups organization and the management is very professional. And, before each meeting, the Chairman of the meeting, will send the emails to us and, uh, to book the time and, uh, during the meeting, she will, take the notes with our discussion. For the technical difficulties that something may not, we cannot solve in a short time, then, the Chairman or the Project Leader will,set to different groups and let different leader discuss separately and then merger them..

[00:03:51] Host: And could you briefly explain the STP panels you've been part of?

[00:03:56] Ms Lin Xing: Okay. , just like I said, I have joined two STP panels, for the 3300, um, this, uh, standards gives the requirement to the service, communication, information education and, entertainment robot. This robot will be used, in residential , commercial and light-industrial environments such like our office or classroom. At present, many robot in STP 3300 range are used in our life. We can see them in our life. Objectively speaking, which star robots appears in the main use. I mean, from the TV which we see had not been widely promoted. Well, the automation and the autonomy of robots we see every day are still in our relatively primary stage. And the safety is naturally also in a relatively preliminary stage. So, the role of the technical standards is very important. And about the another standards is also for the robots that is STP 1740. Uh, it gives the requirements of the robots and the robotic equipment related to 600 voltage or less and intend to installation in according with the national, electrical code NFPA 70. This requirement covers robotic,equipment and system intended for indoor and outdoor use in applications such as part assembling, , part transfer, automated material handling, inspection, loading, dye casting, widing .planting spring, automatic storage system and such things. Mm. I think, uh, these two standards almost covers robot usually used in the industrial or daily life.

[00:06:17] Host: Hmm. And as a member of two of our STP panels, could you briefly throw light on how this engagement has helped you both professionally and personally?

[00:06:31] Ms Lin Xing: Mm. when we talk from this group and with different experts , from different countries, we can learn each other. We share our, Mm, knowledge and, also, uh, from the talk we can get some information about how this kind of products used in different place of the world. So, um, I think that is a very good opportunity for all of the experts in the group.

[00:07:08] Host: You are also involved in leading the proposal of performance test methods for cargo E transport mobility to IEC and have taken a lead on many local standards developments as well. What are the outcomes and what has been the significant impact of the standards which were developed through these panels in terms of safety, security, and sustainability?

[00:07:30] Ms Lin Xing: Mm, yes. In November 2021, as the project leader, I put forward the international proposal to IEC on the cargo E-transport, , mobility method and these standards are successfully entered the CD stage now, at the same time, I also act as the co-convenor for IEC/TC/125 WG6. This working group is Safety for the Cargo e-transporters mm. As you know, performance is the direction that enterprise technology continuous purpose, and the security , I mean, the safety is the bottom line of the products. This kind of product used in hotel, uh, hospital and the parks, but the standards,are Blank. And the enterprise scale is not large. Um, so the product cost is very high. They could not offer supply of standard parts in the industrial chain. International sales are more difficult. So I think, the rapid development of IEC cargo e-transporters standards can help the industry solve this problem. And, that is very meaningful work.

[00:09:04] Host: That is so interesting. And so, from your perspective, how important is participation of women in standards development, technical regulation, and in the implementation of standards?

[00:09:17] Ms Lin Xing: Actually when I saw this question, I'm so confused because the number of women who participate in the standardization work in China is very similar the number of men. The standard is a product of compromise means men and women are similar education level in China and maybe women have higher ability in communication. So, there is very, I mean there is no, no difference of that. The standard itself serves industry regardless of gender. In fact, there is no obvious gender issues in the standard work. At least there are no difference in my surrounding.

[00:10:11] Host: And that's so incredible because that's clearly a very unusual situation. So do you believe having more women at the table lead to gender responsive standards?

[00:10:23] Ms Lin Xing: Um, yes that is sure, but in China there is a no such concern as women have the equal opportunity in this kind of work.

[00:10:35] Host: How important is diversity and inclusion in STP panels? Could you highlight the role played by experts from diverse backgrounds in the development of standards?

[00:10:45] Ms Lin Xing: Mm, Yes, I think the diversity and inclusion in STP panel are very important. For example, from the, um, perspective of a third party, you know, SEARI, my company is a third party. The integrity, the repeatability and the standardization for a standard are important aspects to ensure high quality standards. But the product, sold in the market is based on the cost and the customer's acceptance. The highest demand is not always be the best, suitable is the best. So the government regulation appartment also have this appeal diversity of the members, especially from the small and medium, companies innovative capacity can bring in different demands. Reach consensus through discussion and, comprise. This is also conducive to the application of later standards.

[00:12:03] Host: And how important is mentorship and what role has mentorship played in advancing you in your own career? Would you consider being a mentor yourself?

[00:12:15] Ms Lin Xing: Mentorship is important to help young, standard, participants grow quickly. I met a lot of teachers when I in this series, although they cannot be called a mentor, but an advisor in different stage of my job. My company is SEARI. Uh, it is a third-party inspection agency after I was hired because the standard work is not for gaining profit, I contribute a lot and the job is always taken up by part-time works. Uh, I have act a test engineer and then project engineer, a quality minister, minister of international certification and ect. While I was working both on standards. To be honest the change in my job offered me so experience and benefit me. Now I'm the Director of Standards and the regulation and the response for the standardization of TIC that is the department of SEARI and also construct, uh, training mode for the younger generation of standardization colleagues. Also, I advise some young men and assist them to rapid growth.

[00:13:50] Host: What would you tell women who are listening to this podcast about joining STPs or participating in the standards development process? How would you encourage them to join in and participate a little bit more?.

[00:14:05] Ms Lin Xing: Okay. In the standard world, there is no gender difference, only the technical discussion. Also, in UL and in the process of STP development, there are many different rules. No matter you are conference organizer, recorder, or the standard drafter, as long as you have a technical idea, you can bring it up and all the experts will fully respect and discuss that. At the same time, people in the group can learn a lot here because the standards has many dimensions. In our discussion, we can enrich our knowledge of standards and deepen our understanding of products, which will benefit us a lot. So welcome all of you.

[00:15:01] Host: Thank you Ms Lin Xing for being on the Word to the W.I.S.E. Podcast.

[00:15:06] Ms Lin Xing: Thank you.