is the online magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment by helping organizations improve quality, save money, reduce risk and be more sustainable. Features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems, standards, testing, healthcare and certification.
Make or break
There have been a number of recent initiatives in consumer products worldwide, as producers and suppliers seek to improve quality management systems as well as understand regulations, supply chain control, packaging regulations, international retailer requirements and consumer trends.
For example, the Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy is exploring how the British Retail Consortium's (BRC) Global Standards could be used to help secure the reputation of Chinese products. This is timely, given the recent recall by Mattell in the US. The paint in a handful of its toy lines, manufactured in China, contained excessive levels of lead.
The BRC recommended its new Global Standard for Consumer Products, available for the first time in Chinese, to improve consumer products manufacturing standards in China. The standard enables suppliers to show retailers that they have reached, and maintain, high levels of product safety.
The Embassy's Commercial Office backed a series of supplier briefings in four major Chinese cities during late November 2007, in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou. These briefings were supported by the UK Government and BSI Management Systems. Lord Digby Jones, Minister of State for Trade, was the keynote speaker at the BRC briefing in Beijing.
The production of consumer goods requires the highest possible standards of quality and safety. Global trade, pressure from retailers and ever rising customer expectation demand the safe manufacture, retail and transport of consumer products, which includes almost all non-food items sold in shops, from DIY and travel goods, to electronics, tools and equipment, telecoms, home wares, white goods and furnishings, among many others.
Most large UK retailers require suppliers to demonstrate compliance with the BRC Standard before they will buy from that manufacturer. Organizations in the consumer products sector will need to manage risk, demonstrate good corporate responsibility and meet legal requirements if they are to remain competitive, protect their reputation, enhance their brand and expand beyond their own borders.
Business Standards © 2010. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with The British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
A clear case for carbon neutrality
"Carbon neutral" sounds good on paper, but what does it really mean? Organizations are making claims about carbon neutrality for everything from products to travel, events, projects and buildings. The problem is that no one quite agrees what "carbon neutral" means or how far it extends.
Gerda, a leading developer and manufacturer of products for the security industry, has become the first company to be awarded the Kitemark for thief-resistant lock assemblies, in line with BS 10621:2007 Thief resistant dual-mode lock assembly.
Integra ICT Hits environmental high
Integra ICT, the Bedfordshire-based telecoms provider, has achieved certification to ISO 14001 Environmental management from BSI.
Until now, there has been no strict guidance in the UK relating to how audiovisual (AV) installations are carried out. This includes everything from computers and projectors to interactive whiteboards, plasma screens and loud speakers. For AV installation companies, processes can vary significantly.
Monarch Airlines chooses BSI for its European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) verification
Monarch Airlines has selected BSI as its provider of verification services against the requirements of the EU ETS directive. This comes in response to the industry's requirement to monitor its CO2 emissions and demonstrate compliance with the directive by submitting a verified annual emissions report by 31 March every year from 2011 onwards.
Question: what is the value of a "non-
standard" standard, such as a PAS?
The PAS, or Publicly Available Specification, forms part of our spectrum of standards information ranging from full international consensus to bespoke individual company advice.
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