AHAM is the U.S. based trade association of the home appliance manufacturing industry. Its members include the manufacturers of “major,” “portable,” and "floor care" home appliances and the companies who supply and service these manufacturers.

Major home appliances include refrigerators, refrigerator/freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, trash compactors, microwave ovens, room air conditioners, portable air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Portable home appliances include kitchen electrics such as toasters, toaster ovens, blenders, mixers, electric knives, juicers, slow cookers, rice cookers and bread makers. Also included are personal care products such as hair dryers and curlers, electric shavers and trimmers. Portables also includes air treatment products such as room air cleaners and humidifiers as well as portable fans and heaters. Floor care appliances include portable and central vacuum cleaners, carpet and carpet and floor extractors. AHAM Suppliers include businesses that supply parts, materials and services to home appliance manufacturers.

The home appliance industry serves a global market and, as such, AHAM’s membership is truly global. In the United States alone, the home appliance industry is a multi-billion-dollar component of the economy, helping to define lifestyles. AHAM membership requires a home appliance manufacturer to market its products and maintain a legal presence in the United States.

Mission:

Over forty years ago U.S. based home appliance manufacturers perceived the value in organizing a trade association to serve their common needs and purposes. This strategic alliance brought together manufacturers of a number of different home appliances, whose industry efforts were fragmented in a number of trade organizations. The consensus in 1967, and reaffirmed several times thereafter, was that the common challenges of multi-product and single product home appliance manufacturers could best be served through a singularly focused trade organization. That focus was, and remains today – to serve the shared interests of these manufacturers and their customers. The association’s mission is serving the home appliance industry while delivering value to consumers through leadership,education and advocacy.

It is a testament to these companies, and particularly their leaders, that the organization continues to provide value despite the highly competitive nature of the industry. Since the 1960’s AHAM has encountered numerous challenges that have tested and made stronger the organization’s foundation. These challenges include technical issues, the need for accurate market data, the consumer movement, governmental focus on energy and environment, the need to understand a larger market, and of course technological challenges and opportunities.

In these instances and others, AHAM members have accepted the challenges and delivered results benefiting the industry and its customers. The AHAM mission has been responsive to external developments but remains proactive in promoting the industry’s values. AHAM’s strategic plan for the 21st century builds on the solid foundation and relies on a culture of consensus to achieve its common strategic vision. Its format is intended to communicate this vision to the membership and the public and to align AHAM services to serve the good of the membership its constituencies.

Our Members:

The value story of home appliances continues to reach more and more consumers worldwide. Through a combination of enhanced product performance and global growth, the immeasurable improvements in quality of life, convenience, safety, and environmental quality will continue and expand. Home appliance manufacturers are committed to further improvements and enhancements in these products.