Conformity Assessment 101 Segment: Did you know? [English]

posted in: Conformity Assessment | 0

By Hellen Ogutu- ARSO CACO

According to ISO 9000 Conformity is said to be the fulfilment of a requirement whereas ISO 17000 defines Conformity Assessment as the demonstration that specified requirements relating to a product, process, system, person or body are fulfilled. (Conformity assessment is the name given to the processes that are used to demonstrate that a product (tangible) or a service or a management system or body meets specified requirements)

“Conformity” and “conformity assessment” obviously play significant roles when requirements, needs, a buyer and a manufacturer come together. Looking at a larger picture, conformity and conformity assessment are part of a well-functioning quality system, including standards, testing and quality management for sustainability. The processes that need to be followed to be able to demonstrate that the products, processes or services meet these requirements can be contained in standards and guides as well as in other type of documents.

Conformity assessment provides benefits to everyone in this supply and demand chain addressing the features relevant for a product or service, a process or a system. Benefiting are the consumer, manufacturer and the supplier as well as regulators who are responsible for ensuring the health and safety of the general public.

Benefits for consumers                                      

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Source : www.packworld.com

Shopping for a product or service is not so easy because as it seems, as all manufacturers and service providers tend to make the promise that their products and services fulfil all the needs, desires and expectations a consumer may have. But question is, do they…? And if so what indicates that the service providers and manufacturers have meet these expectations to satisfy the consumer needs and wants?

In this case, as in many others it is very difficult for any consumer to select one product or one service (such as goods to be purchased for the household, for leisure, for work or other aspects of life). Here, conformity assessment (done the consumer) could provide a basis for selecting the product or service for example by checking the labels for expiry dates in the case of foodstuff, validity period for a service e.g. guarantee aftersales services, among others. If this falls within the recommended period then the consumer can then say that the product conforms. In addition, consumers have more confidence in products or services that are supported by a formal declaration, or bearing a mark or certificate of conformity, that attests quality, safety or other desirable features.

Benefits for manufacturers

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Source : www.halogensoftware.com

Today’s consumers are becoming more add more aware of and interested in the relevance of quality products and services in the market-driven global trade arena, manufacturers are increasingly confronted with markets demanding quality. This is true not only for the global market trade but also for the internal markets as consumers. But producing high quality products is not sufficient anymore to succeed in the market. In this situation, manufacturers are challenged to assess their products, services and processes so as to conform to the given stipulated requirements. It is essential to document and make it visible for customers and in specific cases, for the regulators and other traders. Conformity assessment, in whatsoever format, allows manufacturers to have some peace of mind that they have implemented systems within their own organizations to ensure that the processes, products and services they deliver meet the necessary criteria.

Benefits for regulators

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Source : www.123rf.com

When public health, safety or the environment may be at stake, conformity assessment is often made obligatory by government regulations. For regulators, proof of meeting requirements continuously is essential so that conformity assessment supports them in the process they use to ensure that health and safety as well as environmental conditions are being met at all times. Regulators may also bar goods from sale unless they come with independent appropriate assessment and approval; suppliers might also be disqualified from bidding for government procurement contracts if they cannot prove that they satisfy specific requirements, e.g. related to documentation processes, quality of material, customer relation, having been assessed for conformity successfully. CA procedures can also provide much needed data to regulators in the domestic and foreign market, because they convey information on the characteristics of a product and its performance, thus facilitating trade and contributing to consumer/user confidence.

Standards and Conformity Assessment

As described above conformity assessment it important, but one may ask how does one assess this conformity? The answer in most cases will be through the use of standards. Standards play a significant role in conformity assessment as it is the main reference document used in trading circles. This is not only true for the standards documenting the procedures relevant for Conformity Assessment itself, but also for many other standards, as they define requirements that a product, process or service has to meet to conform to the standard. As any formal standard is elaborated among and together with all stakeholders in the technical field, the requirements in such a standard have a high level of validity and credibility. Signs and marks referencing a standard are often taken as a sign of quality. However, simply referencing a standard might not be enough to demonstrate that requirements are fulfilled; an indication how this was achieved is even more essential. Conformity assessment means evaluating and confirming the features as defined in standards, regulations and other specifications. CA thus makes sure that products and services deliver on their promises.

If a standard is used in conformity assessment procedures (an international, regional or national standard on conformity assessment such as the commonly used ISO 17000 series of standards), this allows for harmonization throughout the world to facilitate trade by giving the purchaser confidence that requirements are met on an equal level globally. This on the other hand it increases a buyer confidence in a product, furnish useful information to a buyer, and helps to substantiate a supplier’s advertising and labeling claims regarding a product.

Therefore, in summary, the benefit of Conformity Assessment can be alluded to verify that a particular product, process or service meets and conveys (but not limited to)the following:-

  • It is an important marketplace communications device — a means of exchanging information between buyer and seller,
  • A given level of quality or safety
  • Provides the user with explicit or implicit information about its characteristics and the consistency of those characteristics
  • Verifies the performance of the product, process or service
  • Ensure that the products, processes and services delivered meet the necessary criteria
  • Increases a buyer confidence in a product
  • Furnishes useful information to a buyer
  • Helps to substantiate a supplier’s advertising and labeling claims regarding a product
  • It creates visibility for customers and users,
  • Enables informed decision making,
  • Adds credibility and value gives a competitive edge,
  • Distinguish from less qualified and maybe less reputable suppliers,
  • Ensures that health and safety as well as environmental conditions are attained at all times,
  • Provides statistical data of trade use  and
  • Gives general information of a product and its performance characteristics
  • Contributing to consumer/user confidence and
  • Thus facilitating trade

Hence, It is vital for buyers, sellers, and other interested parties to understand the conformity assessment process to competently judge the value of a particular assessment scheme and to use the information resulting from that scheme to make intelligent marketplace choices and eases decision making. The quality of the conformity assessment information conveyed depends on:

  • The impartiality and competence of the assessment body;
  • The types of assessment activities included in the scheme; and the adequacy and appropriateness of the standards against which the product is evaluated.

Improperly conducted conformity assessment activities may result in widespread buyer deception.  If properly conducted, however, conformity assessment can furnish valuable information to the marketplace and can serve as the basis for increased opportunities for national, continental and international trade.