By Mike Schmidt, Director of Industry Communications, Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) --
There’s no overstating the importance of original equipment manufacturers being effective in their efforts to identify and address the risks associated with their products.
Whether that comes in the form of tackling operator safety concerns, engine emission regulations, or other timely and relevant issues, finding ways to mitigate risk and protecting market access is always at or near the top of the priority list for AEM member companies today. And it’s also why so many association representatives engage with and are involved with the work of AEM’s Safety & Product Leadership department.
“Over the last several years, the non-road equipment manufacturing industry has seen a proliferation of new rules focused on a variety of issues that impact their products,” said AEM Senior Director of Safety & Product Leadership Jason Malcore. “In response, our Safety & Product Leadership team continues to engage on a number of different activities to mitigate risks on behalf of AEM member companies.”
When it comes to the significance of the department’s efforts in support of members and their non-road equipment manufacturer peers, the numbers tell the story of the impact of AEM’s Safety & Product Leadership department. In just 2025 alone, AEM:
- Commented and worked on 45 different government rulemakings
- Mitigated over $10 billion in compliance-related costs for the non-road equipment manufacturing industry
- Established new connections with dozens of different government agencies
- Held multiple events and face-to-face meetings with federal, state, and international government regulators
“It’s not about our perspective or viewpoint as AEM. We want to make sure we represent viewpoints from all our member stakeholders to best communicate the practical realities and challenges associated with regulating non-road equipment and our supply chains.” -- Jason Malcore
Representing the Interests of the Industry
At the core of AEM’s Safety & Product Leadership work is an established and well-maintained record of collaboration with government regulators and decisionmakers. However, to Malcore, that means more than just “having a seat at the table” or a “voice that’s heard.”
“It’s not about our perspective or viewpoint as AEM,” he explained. “We want to make sure we represent viewpoints from all our member stakeholders to best communicate the practical realities and challenges associated with regulating non-road equipment and our supply chains.”
Ultimately, AEM works to deliver results in support of its members and the industry by leveraging the collective expertise of the Safety & Product Leadership staff and its member-led committees. Their end goal is simply stated, but it’s not easily achieved: policy and rulemaking based on sound science, accurate data, and an in-depth understanding of modern business operations.
Keeping Members Informed and Prepared
In addition to helping AEM and its members speak with one voice in support of risk-related issues, the Safety & Product Leadership team works to provide detailed information on all the regulatory items under discussion within the association’s technical committees.
AEM’s primary tool for keeping members informed and prepared is its Regulatory Activity Dashboard. Newly enhanced and recently relaunched, the dashboard offers members a “one-stop shop” for ready access to work-related updates on regulations impacting the non-road equipment manufacturing industry.
“Our members count on AEM to provide support and help them remain in compliance, and this dashboard is a solution to help do exactly that,” said Malcore.
It’s no secret regulations are complex and always changing, which is why the dashboard is frequently updated to arm AEM members with ready access to timely and relevant information, including:
- Rules
- Due dates
- Activities
- Descriptions
- AEM contacts
- Links to committee webpages
- Archived regulatory issues that are no longer under discussion at the moment
“While the list is not intended to show all rules that may impact a product or company, it does keep AEM members as informed as possible about the range of topics AEM Safety & Product Leadership Groups are addressing right now,” said Malcore.
Another way AEM keeps its members informed is by holding its annual Safety & Product Leadership Council Week. The 2026 edition took place earlier this month in Milwaukee and brought together technical committees, councils, and subcommittees for a series of in-person meetings focused on industry priorities, member collaboration, and shared problem solving.
“By bringing together all of AEM’s Safety & Product Leadership groups every year, we help to not only encourage new members to participate but also encourage cross- pollination on ideas and important work items,” said Malcore.
Finally, several other key Safety & Product Leadership resources that are available to, and should be leveraged by, AEM members include:
- AEM's Safety & Product Leadership (S&PL) priorities
- The regularly updated AEM.org Compliance and Regulatory page
- The annual AEM Regulatory Year in Review document
- AEM Insights and Resources
- AEM’s yearly Product Safety & Stewardship Conference and Liability Seminar
Helping to Maintain Members’ Market Access
Through its work, AEM harnesses the knowledge base of an entire industry to inform members as to what barriers exist to achieving compliance, what liability risks are emerging, as well as what threats to market access are taking shape across the world. And while progress often takes time and happens incrementally, Malcore feels AEM’s impact over the long term is clearly felt throughout the membership and beyond.
“It’s very difficult to replicate this with any other organization, and AEM will always have a role in terms of advocating for industry regarding technical product requirements that will be an inevitable part of operating in a global economy,” he continued.
“We’re not the gear that forces the wheel to turn, we’re the grease that helps make that makes wheel run smoothly on behalf of our members.”
