SGS assists retailers to rapidly bring electronic products to market

Backed by a network of product testing laboratories, SGS can assist suppliers and retailers to meet the challenges of market access by supporting their entire product development processes.

As portfolios of electronic products continue to expand, retailer suppliers should try to obtain CB Test Certificates from a relevant National Certification Body (NCB). By gaining such certificates, as administered under the IECEE Certification Bodies (CB) scheme, a wide range of electronic products can rapidly be brought by retailers to multiple markets.

Management of Sourcing

In the electronics retailing industry, decisions are constantly being made about which new products to carry in store. Stakeholders, including retail buyers, merchandising, and quality assurance managers must ensure not only that product ranges respond to technological trends and brand recognition, but also that their retail reputation and success are safeguarded by carrying only products which meet safety, performance and standards compliance criteria.

Access requirements vary significantly across target markets. While in many cases EU regulations only require self-declaration of product compliance to affix the CE marking, in other markets around the world access can only be granted after a product safety test report is presented. In many such markets, national marking will be mandated for products being sold. Given these conditions, significant challenges exist for quality assurance managers, who must ensure the compliance of a range of products to the various standards required across a range of markets.

How National Certification Helps

In the absence of certifications, the possibility remains that retailers will be presented by manufacturers with ‘golden samples’, whose quality is not matched by subsequently shipped products. Product-certifications guard against this possibility. They provide a tool for regulators and retailers to verify manufacturers’ safety claims. The presence of appropriate certification provides the retailer with a credible guarantee that a product’s manufacturing has been monitored via routine factory inspections, thereby ensuring ongoing compliance with relevant standards.

Market specific certifications demonstrate to retailers that products meet the specific standards criteria in their retail market. National certifications such as the Chinese CCC or Russian Gost-R marks are effective within their specific markets, but this country specific marking limits the ability of retailers to rapidly introduce the same products into other markets. With the use of only national certification, retailers must check the certification of each of their products every time these products are introduced to new national markets.

Compliance Process Becomes Faster With CB Certifications

The limitations of national systems can however be overcome through the provision of a market access plan in each nation via a National Certification body (NCB). Using such a scheme, electronic products stand a much higher chance of rapidly gaining entry to multiple markets, without requiring re-certification in each market. Manufacturers can ensure that their products are compliant with relevant IEC standards by working with recognised and established third party NCB organisations.

An NCB undertaking such work will issue CB test reports. These reports enable rapid access to the markets of more than 40 CB Scheme member countries, as well as adding value and prestige to products even in non-CB Scheme member countries. Such reports can also function as tools for retailers who seek assurance that the products they carry meet the standards of a range of their markets. By requiring provision of CB test reports, these retailers can clearly communicate their safety and quality expectations to manufacturers.

SGS is a recognized NCB. With the benefit of their worldwide set of safety and performance laboratories, SGS can assist both retailers and suppliers to ensure that their electronic products qualify to enter markets across the globe.

The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognized as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With 59,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Dipl. -Ing. (FH) Heiko Schmidt
International Sales, SGS Germany GmbH
Raboisen 28.
20095 Hamburg
Germany

Phone number: +49 231 98 22 95 45
E-mail address: heiko.schmidt@sgs.com
Website: http://www.ee.sgs.com/index.htm

This release was published on openPR.