My Background in Industrial Standards
My interest in industrial standards did not start in a classroom. It started on the production floor.
Over the course of my career, I have worked in manufacturing and heavy industrial environments where standards are not just theory. They are the frameworks that determine how equipment is built, how materials are inspected, how welding is performed, how coatings are applied, and how quality systems are managed.
In these environments, engineers, inspectors, and operations leaders rely on a wide range of standards from different organizations at the same time. A single project may involve ISO quality management systems, AWS welding codes, ASME engineering requirements, AISC structural standards, and protective coatings standards from NACE or SSPC.
Understanding how these standards connect in real-world operations is critical, but it is not always easy. Many professionals responsible for implementing standards are expected to navigate multiple technical frameworks while also managing production schedules, quality performance, and regulatory compliance.
Through my work in manufacturing operations, industrial coatings, valve manufacturing, and heavy steel fabrication environments, I have seen firsthand how these standards are applied in practice.
The Standards Navigator was created to help explain these systems in practical terms. Rather than simply defining standards, the goal of this site is to show how they are used in real industrial environments and how professionals can better understand the frameworks that guide modern manufacturing and engineering operations.
About The Standards Navigator
Modern industry runs on standards.
From quality management and environmental compliance to welding codes and material testing specifications, standards provide the frameworks that allow companies across the world to design, manufacture, inspect, and deliver products safely and consistently.
The challenge is that these standards often exist across multiple organizations and technical disciplines. Engineers, quality managers, and operations leaders are frequently responsible for implementing standards from several different bodies at the same time.
That is where The Standards Navigator comes in.
The goal of this site is to help professionals understand how industrial standards work in real operational environments. Rather than presenting standards as abstract theory, this platform focuses on practical explanations of how they are applied across manufacturing, engineering, construction, and industrial operations.
Topics covered on this site include quality management systems, engineering codes, materials standards, safety frameworks, and industry compliance requirements used across modern industry.
Many of the standards discussed here originate from organizations such as:
- International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
- ASTM International
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- American Welding Society (AWS)
- SAE International
- American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
Each organization publishes standards that influence how products are designed, built, inspected, and maintained across global supply chains.
Understanding how these frameworks connect is essential for professionals responsible for quality systems, engineering compliance, and operational performance.
About Eric Franco
The Standards Navigator is written and maintained by Eric Franco, an operations and quality systems professional with experience in manufacturing, industrial coatings, and heavy industrial fabrication environments.
Eric’s background includes work across industries involving:
Heavy industrial steel fabrication
Valve manufacturing and energy infrastructure
Industrial coatings and corrosion protection systems
Manufacturing quality management systems
Operations leadership in production environments
Throughout his career, Eric has worked with a variety of industry standards and compliance frameworks used across manufacturing and engineering organizations.
These include standards and systems related to:
ISO management systems, particularly ISO 9001 quality management
Six Sigma quality improvement methodologies
Protective coatings standards such as NACE and SSPC
Welding codes from the American Welding Society (AWS)
Engineering codes from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Structural steel standards from the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC)
These frameworks often intersect in real-world operations. For example, manufacturing organizations frequently operate under a combination of quality systems, engineering codes, and safety standards simultaneously.
The purpose of The Standards Navigator is to translate these complex frameworks into practical explanations that professionals can apply in real operational environments.
Professional Background & Standards Experience
Eric Franco brings hands-on experience working within industrial environments where multiple technical standards must be implemented simultaneously across quality systems, engineering codes, and manufacturing operations.
His professional experience includes operational leadership, quality management systems implementation, and compliance with industry standards across manufacturing and heavy industrial production environments.
Quality Systems & Process Improvement
- ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems
- Six Sigma methodology and continuous improvement
- Internal auditing and quality program development
- Process control and production performance metrics
Engineering Codes & Structural Standards
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) codes
- American Welding Society (AWS) welding codes
- American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) standards
- Manufacturing and fabrication quality control practices
Corrosion Protection & Protective Coatings
- NACE International corrosion control standards
- SSPC protective coatings standards
- Surface preparation and coating inspection practices
- Industrial corrosion protection systems
Manufacturing & Industrial Operations
- Heavy industrial steel fabrication
- Energy and valve manufacturing environments
- Production operations leadership
- Quality and process performance management
Why This Experience Matters
Many industrial professionals are responsible for implementing multiple standards at the same time. A single manufacturing operation may need to comply with:
- ISO quality management systems
- engineering design codes
- welding procedures and certifications
- materials testing standards
- inspection and documentation requirements
These frameworks often come from different organizations and use very different technical language.
The goal of The Standards Navigator is to help translate these standards into practical explanations based on real operational experience.
Real-World Standards Implementation
Many industrial standards are written at the management system level, but they ultimately translate into real-world inspections and verification activities on the manufacturing floor.
The example shown here demonstrates a lifting equipment inspection using a documented checklist to verify hook condition, wear, deformation, and operational integrity. These types of inspections support safety management systems aligned with ISO 45001 and are common in heavy manufacturing, fabrication, and industrial production environments.
My experience spans both management system implementation and practical field verification, helping organizations translate complex standards into real operational practices.
What You Will Find on This Site
This site focuses on helping professionals understand the role industrial standards play in modern operations.
Content on The Standards Navigator typically includes:
Explanations of major international standards and frameworks
Guides to ISO certification and management system implementation
Comparisons between related standards and compliance models
Practical examples of how standards interact in real manufacturing environments
Industry insights based on operational experience
Rather than simply defining standards, the goal is to explain how they are used in practice across manufacturing, engineering, and industrial operations.
Standards and organizations frequently discussed on this site include:
ISO • ASTM • ASME • AWS • AISC • NACE • SSPC • ANSI
Who This Site Is For
The Standards Navigator is designed for professionals responsible for implementing, managing, or working within standards-driven environments.
Typical readers include:
- Engineers
- Quality managers
- Manufacturing supervisors
- Operations leaders
- Compliance professionals
- Industrial project managers
- Consultants and auditors
If your work involves navigating quality systems, engineering codes, or industry compliance frameworks, this site is designed to help you better understand how those standards connect and how they function in real-world operations.
The Mission of The Standards Navigator
Industrial standards are often complex, highly technical, and spread across multiple organizations and industries.
The mission of this site is simple:
To make industrial standards easier to understand and apply in real operational environments.
By translating technical frameworks into practical guidance, The Standards Navigator aims to help professionals better navigate the standards that shape modern industry.