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.
Customer care
28 Jan 2008
Topics: Medical devices, CE mark
Certification of medical equipment is of utmost importance both for industry players as well as patients and medical professionals who rely on them. For Robert Packard of ConforMIS, a US-based facility that develops articular repair systems capable of re-establishing normal articular alignment and shape in patients with osteoarthritis, finding the right certification body was essential to the process. When Packard was hired as director of quality for the company, he was tasked with transferring the company's quality system and CE certifications. Dissatisfaction with the previous notified body meant that ConforMIS was going to choose its partner very carefully and ultimately, customer service and extensive product knowledge made the choice straightforward.
"At every opportunity, BSI has demonstrated that it is much more responsive, more knowledgeable about our products and processes, and BSI is committed to helping our company as a partner," Packard emphasises in a letter to the company following the successful transfer to BSI. For those in the business of medical devices, ensuring the highest standards of quality is not just a business benefit, it is a requirement.
For more information on certification of medical devices:www.bsigroup.com/jan08medical
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.
Airbus in the UK has achieved certification to BS 25999, the Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard, following an audit from BSI. The certification covers Airbus? wing manufacturing site in Broughton, North Wales and becomes the first aerospace manufacturing company to receive certification to this standard by BSI.
A little bit extra for Kitemark® bodyshops and garages
It's all well and good for an automotive bodyshop to earn the Thatcham BSI Kitemark® for Vehicle Body Repair, but it won't have as much impact if potential clients don't know about it. As a consequence, BSI decided to offer an Extras marketing toolkit to bodyshops and garages that have earned the Kitemark.
OCS, an international facilities services group based in the UK, has achieved triple certification to ISO 9001 Quality management, ISO 14001 Environmental management/ and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and safety management with BSI.
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.
UK film industry pioneers sustainability standard developed by BSI
The British film industry, in conjunction with BSI, is taking the lead in the global entertainment market with the announcement at the Cannes Film Festival of a new British Standard that will improve the industry's environmental, social and economic impact. For example, in London alone, screen production accounted for 125,000 tonnes of carbon emissions in 2009, 40% of which came from studios and 28% from TV and film production.
Question: What impact do you think BCM could have on business insurance in the future?
It is essential that any business suffering a disaster is able to continue as near normal trading in the shortest possible time period to survive. To achieve this, an organization should implement a comprehensive well-tested business continuity plan (BCP) as a first step. Insurance should be viewed as an extension to the BCP process, not an alternative.
Have a standards-related question for BSI or a comment on the website? We'll find the right person to answer.
