Final answer:
Voluntary industry consensus standards help create uniformity within an industry, potentially easing operations across different states and local governments. They can streamline compliance and reduce confusion, although some industries may still favor national policies for simplicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Voluntary industry consensus standards are guidelines developed through a collective agreement among industry leaders to ensure a degree of uniformity and quality across a sector. These standards can influence how businesses operate and interact with one another, as well as with consumers and regulatory agencies. By opting for standards of consistency across state and local governments, industries can facilitate smoother operations, reduce confusion, and enhance compliance. Conversely, some industries may prefer policies set at the national level to simplify nationwide operations and avoid the complexity of dealing with varied state or local standards.