The SFF Committee is an ad hoc group formed to address storage industry needs in a prompt manner. When formed in 1990, the original goals were limited to defining de facto mechanical envelopes for disk drives so they could fit into laptop computers and other small products.

In November 1992, the SFF Committee objectives were broadened to encompass any area which needs prompt industry action. The SFF Committee complements the formal standards process by filling the gap when industry needs cannot be addressed by standards because of timing, or charter, or some other consideration. Most SFF Specifications are kept narrow in scope to reduce development time.

The SFF Committee is not an attempt to replace the development process of existing standards projects but to complement it by addressing issues which may not be address by the standards process, or where there is no standards project activity. SFF Committee meetings are open to all. Participation in discussion is limited to members in good standing or those invited to speak by such members.

Votes at an SFF Committee meeting are for guidance as all formal voting is by ballot and SFF minutes are not a formal means to track decisions on technical issues. The editor is the primary contact on a specification, and most of the technical activity occurs during SSWGs (Specific Subject Working Groups). The SFF Committee does not retain information distributed in minutes, or keep a history of the revisions of specifications. Members who want such a record need to archive the mailings as well as documents distributed during SSWGs.

Members in attendance at a SSWG or a meeting provide guidance on what is to be contained in the next revision of a Specification.

• If there is consensus then the next revision includes the agreed-upon information.
• If the technical content of a section in a Specification is not agreeable to all members then the alternatives are documented in the next revision for the voters to choose between.

Manufacturers and customers can use the SFF Committee as a neutral ground where any issue of industry concern can be discussed. The intent is for customers to be able to procure compatible, multi-sourced products. As it can be difficult to achieve consensus in the short run, published material will indicate on which side of an issue a member has voted.