In the introduction to the Address, the author outlines his own unique position, as an officer of all three bodies, the BEAMA, the BSI and the IEE, a position and concern that prompts and qualifies him to speak about their interrelationship and how and why that should be developed further. Standards, how they are prepared, and their importance in improving the efficiency and profitability of industry, are discussed as the principal interface of the BEAMA, the BSI and the IEE. The government's recognition of the importance of standards and its determination to enhance their status was expressed in the White Paper: ‘Standards, quality and international competitiveness’, and the accompanying ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the BSI. The salient points of these documents and their implications for the BSI, the BEAMA and the IEE are explored with comments on the readiness of the three bodies to respond and cooperate in achieving the common goal: an efficient and internationally competitive industry.