Certificate of quality

Certificate of quality - is also called product certification, product qualification. This is a process when certain product has reached certificate. After product has passed performance tests and quality assurance tests and also meets qualification criteria which are counted in contracts, specifications and regulation.

Process of product certification

First of all it must be said that product might be verified to comply with a specification or can be stamped with a specification number. It is not obvious that the product is fit to any particular use. There is group of person or person, who can own the certification process - e.g. engineers, building code writers, government, trade unions. They have the responsibility to choose available specifications, chose the correct ones, enforce complaince, set qualification limits. At the end, there are users who are responsible for life cycle of the product. Moreover, if the product is to work to well, it must be used in accordance with the list of certificate.

Fig.1. Quality related certificates - examples

It is often required to use product certification. Especially in sensitive industry and marketplace areas, where a mistake or failure can have serious consequence. For example, bad effect on health or can hurt people who are using that product. Process of certification products is described in four steps:

• application - includes test of the products,
• aveluation - checked if the test data indicate the products achieve qualification criteria,
• decision - on this stage, is necessary to checked if product application concur with the second step, evaluation,
• surveillance - after certification, at this stage we must cheked if the product in the marketplace continue to meet qualification criteria.

Firstly, a product supplier will send a concrete product to the laboratory, where will be testes. Then, product will be testing in accordance with the labaratory's internal procedures. Results of test are collected and then send to the product certification. Sometimes products required periodic recertification. Certification bodies can require products suppliers to make some sort of surveillance activity. Additionally, there are often some surprise audits of the manufacturing plant. There are also other couses of the recertification, such like: complaints issued to product's functionality. Most product are certified in certification bodies. They are accredited to ISO 17065. This is conformity assessment, international standard for ensuring competence.

Examples of certification scheme

We can name several types of certification schemes:

• FCC - Federal Communications Commission,
• TCB - Telecommunication Certification Body,
• IEECE CB Scheme - The International Commission on the Rules for the Approval Of Electrical Equipment Product Safety Certification Body Scheme,
• MAS - Materials Analytical Serices,
• and many more.

Where we need to use certification of quality

There are few axamples that are often required to have product certification:

• aerospace applications,
• food,
• pharmaceuticals,
• healtrcare products,
• dangerous good,
• computers and mobile phones,
• and many more.

Certification mark

A certification mark/label is a type of trademark that is used to show consumers that particular goods or services, or their providers, have met certain standards. Certification marks are names, symbols, or devices used by groups or persons that show compliance to a set of standards. These marks can show geographic origin, standards met with respect to quality or manufacture, or work performed by a person that meets certain standards. It is important, because for product's businessess owners. They want to demonstrate the quality of their products. On the other side, consumers, want to see thath the pruducts that their using, meet desired standards. What is include in certified goods:

• safety,
• morality,
• quality,
• materials used,
• accuracy.

Advantages of Certificate of quality

A Certificate of Quality provides many advantages for both the manufacturer and the customer. It provides a guarantee of quality, safety, and performance of the product to the customer. Additionally, it ensures that the product meets regulatory or industry standards. The following are just some of the advantages of having a Certificate of Quality:

• It helps to ensure that the product meets the customer's expectations. The certificate gives the customer assurance that the product complies with international standards, has been tested and has passed inspection.
• It provides the opportunity for the manufacturer to showcase the quality of the product and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
• It helps to build trust between the manufacturer and the customer, as the customer knows that the product has been tested and approved.
• It helps to protect the manufacturer from liability, as the product is certified to meet the standards set forth in the certificate.
• It helps to protect the customer from being sold a low-quality product, as the certificate guarantees that the product meets the required standards.

Limitations of Certificate of quality

A certificate of quality is a process that ensures a product meets certain standards and criteria, but it has some limitations. These include:

• Limited scope - The scope of the certificate of quality is limited to the product’s performance and quality assurance, and may not cover other aspects such as safety and ethical considerations.
• Rigid criteria - The criteria for quality assurance set out in the certificate may be too rigid and may not take into account changing customer demands or advances in technology.
• Subject to change - Certificates of quality can change over time as standards evolve, which may create additional costs for businesses.
• Limited resources - The resources needed to implement a certificate of quality may be limited, and businesses may not have the resources to properly implement the certificate.
• Time constraints - The process of attaining a certificate of quality can be time consuming and may not be feasible for businesses with limited resources.

Other approaches related to Certificate of quality

The Certificate of quality is an important part of the product certification process, and there are several other approaches related to it. These include:

• Quality Assurance (QA) - Quality Assurance is a process of verifying that products meet certain quality standards. This includes testing products for performance, functionality, and durability. It also includes conducting inspections during the manufacturing process to ensure that quality control measures are being met.
• Quality Control (QC) - Quality Control is a process of verifying that products meet certain quality requirements. It involves inspecting products after they have been manufactured to ensure that they meet set quality standards.
• Product Certification - Product Certification is a process of verifying that products meet certain safety and performance standards. It involves testing products for safety and performance and then certifying them if they meet the required standards.
• Regulatory Compliance - Regulatory Compliance is a process of ensuring that products meet certain regulatory requirements. This includes ensuring that products meet environmental regulations and health and safety regulations.

In summary, the Certificate of quality is a process of verifying that products meet certain quality standards. Other approaches related to it include Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Product Certification, and Regulatory Compliance.

Footnotes

Certificate of quality — recommended articles

CE marking — Compliance test — Occupancy permit — HACCP system — Certificate of approval — Certificate of acceptance — Internal audit — Commitment letter — Certificate of free sale

References

• Dimaria E., (2003)., Consumer evaluations of product certification, geographic association and traceability in Greece, European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 37 Issue: 5/6
• Habli I., Kelly T.,(2006)., Process and product certification arguments: getting the balance right, New York, Volume 3 Issue 4
• Heck P., Klabbers M., Eekelen M., (2009)., A software product certification model, Software Quality Journal
• House S., (2018)., How consumers respond to product certification and the value of energy information
• Klochkov Y., Odinokov S., Klochkova E., Ostapenko M., (2016)., Development of certification model, India
• Wessells C., Cochcrane K., Deere C., Wallis P., (2001)., Product certification and ecolabelling for fisheries sustainability, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

Author: Aleksandra Malczyk