“Product certification management” is the
professional service of guiding designers, manufacturers, and importers through
the certification process to comply with the regulations of different markets
around the world. This includes deciding which standards apply to certain
products, then managing the testing of the products, the inspection of the
facilities (if necessary), and securing the actual certification documents to
demonstrate compliance.
A product certification management service
handles many steps of the compliance process, including:
- Understanding the product and its function to determine applicable standards.
- Identifying which regulation(s) apply to the product in each market area.
- Working with regulatory officials and organizations in each market area to understand unique requirements.
- Coordinating product testing, either independently or at a certified testing facility (depending on the requirements of the market in question).
- Coordinating facility inspections for regulatory officials (if required by applicable regulations).
- Coordinating competitive bids from certification bodies and establishing relationships with compliance officials.
- Maintaining all documents related to tests, inspections, certifications, and declarations of compliance.
- Staying abreast of changes to certificates, standards, or general product requirements.
- Creating a comprehensive certification suite for multiple products entering multiple markets.
- Helping companies move existing products to new markets (or expand their product line in existing markets).
Companies that provide product certification
management services may also offer a certification tracking system. For
example, G&M Compliance is a full-service compliance agency that offers the
Certificate Alert and Tracking System (CATS).
This system is designed to help companies stay informed of expiration dates,
renewals, regulatory changes, and more. CATS sends automatic notifications at
90, 60, and 30 days before expiration so companies can avoid last-minute
renewals and the penalties associated with non-compliance.
When it comes to product certification
management, using a tracking tool is a useful addition to a team of compliance
professionals. This tracking system provides a self-service tool where you can
review upcoming compliance deadlines and important changes, but with the
support of a full compliance team you can turn to for leadership, guidance, and
relationships with certification bodies.
Working with a product certification
management service has significant advantages, including:
- Faster go-to-market timelines for products
- Fewer internal resources (time, staff, etc.) devoted to solving the compliance puzzle
- Quicker, simpler access to important compliance documents
- A proactive, ongoing approach to compliance, which reduces the time and cost associated with “compliance emergencies”
Contact G&M Compliance
G&M Compliance is a trusted product
certification management partner around the world. Our team of compliance
professionals has experience with CCC certification, BIS, EAC, and many other
global markets. We have the knowledge to help your products reach more people
in more countries—and the expertise to go to market faster.
Contact
G&M Compliance today for a free quote
or consultation about certification management.