An Equipment Supplier's View on Regulations

Equipment suppliers have both generated and accommodated to evolutionary changes as regulations evolved with advances in the state-of-the-art. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards have revolutionized the equipment suppliers' interest in Regulations.

The scope and activity of groups within the NHTSA is reviewed to show the impact of the performance, design and quality assurance aspects of such Standards at the equipment supplier level. Compliance and defect responsibilities are discussed. Specific examples have been selected from experience with FMVSS 121 - Air Brake Systems.