BIFMA Certification
BIFMA is the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. It was founded in 1973 with a mission to lead, advocate, notify and increase standards for the North American office and institutional furniture industry.
BIFMA is satisfied to declare that the level sustainability certification program for furniture has exceeded the 40 manufacturer mark on the quickly growing list of companies who produce level certified products. Level gives interior designers, architects, facility managers, and others across all industries with an easy method to recognize progressively more sustainable products,” said Tom Reardon, BIFMA Executive Director. “We are very pleased to see the hard work that these 41 manufacturing companies have made”
Points earned under each of these categories determine the level of certification earned:
- Level 1. The first tier of certified presentation
- Level 2. Additional milestones of presentation achieved
- Level 3. The highest level of presentation acknowledged
Benefits of Bifma Certification
- Helps your internal sustainable management objectives
- Establishes a path for constant development.
- Establishes your leadership qualifications in the office furniture industry
- Promises clients and stakeholders that your certified products are held to industry-leading social, environmental and economic standards
- Supports you meet state and federal procurement necessities
Gost R Certification
GOST is the valid quality certification system in Russian Federation. ( With the other words, it is called GOST-R Certification) GOST is very important for Russian companies and exporters to the Russia and carries the same meaning of ISO 9000 series certificates for the western companies. GOST-TR is the approved quality indicator for Russia.
Certification GOST-TR is not only engaged with the quality management of the subject company, but also focused the products of it. With the other words, to obtain of this certificates the tests of samples are necessary. These test are made on accredited laboratories by GOSSTANDARD. ( Russian Governmental Standards Organization) According to these tests the certificates are given to the willing company.
Why is GOST Certification Necessary?
Usually Certificate is necessary for two cases:
- Customs house
- Realization of products at Russian market
The Law on Certification of Products and Services stipulates two types of certification – mandatory and voluntary certification. The Law on Protection of Rights of Consumers and the Law on Standardization regulate mandatory certification process and identify products that are subject to this type of certification.
According to the order of the State Customs Committee of Russia from 01.10.2000, production of foreign manufacturers imported in the country should respond the national quality standards, therefore is the subject to certification.
Certification GOST may be carried out concerning the goods or industrial activities of the firm. The goods, passed process of certification and received certificate of conformity GOST by results of expertise, do not meet any difficulties at registration of customs documents.
That is why Russian export companies and organizations cannot work with non-certified products.
TQM Certification
Total Quality Management (TQM) is a comprehensive and structured approach to organizational management that seeks to improve the quality of products and services through ongoing refinements in response to continuous feedback. TQM requirements may be defined separately for a particular organization or may be in adherence to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 9000 series. TQM can be applied to any type of organization; it originated in the manufacturing sector and has since been adapted for use in almost every type of organization imaginable, including schools, highway maintenance, hotel management, and churches. As a current focus of e-business, TQM is based on quality management from the customer’s point of view.
TQM processes are divided into four sequential categories: plan, do, check, and act (the PDCA cycle). In the planning phase, people define the problem to be addressed, collect relevant data, and ascertain the problem’s root cause; in the doing phase, people develop and implement a solution, and decide upon a measurement to gauge its effectiveness; in the checking phase, people confirm the results through before-and-after data comparison; in the acting phase, people document their results, inform others about process changes, and make recommendations for the problem to be addressed in the next PDCA cycle.
The principles of quality management
- customer-focused organisation – organisations depend on their customers and therefore should understand current and future customer needs, meet customer requirements and strive to exceed customer expectations
- leadership – leaders establish unity of purpose, direction and the internal environment of the organisation. They create the environment in which people can become fully involved in achieving the organisation’s objectives
- involvement of people – people at all levels are the essence of an organisation and their full involvement enables their abilities to be used for the organisation’s benefit
- process approach – a desired result is achieved more efficiently when related resources and activities are managed as a process
- system approach to management – identifying, understanding and managing a system of interrelated processes for a given objective contributes to the effectiveness and efficiency of the organisation
- continual improvement – continual improvement is a permanent objective of an organisation
- factual approach to decision making – effective decisions are based on the logical and intuitive analysis of data and information
- mutually beneficial supplier relationships – mutually beneficial relationships between the organisation and its suppliers enhance the ability of both organisations to create value
FCC Certification
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) controls interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Untied States (US) territories. An independent US government agency overseen by Congress, the commission is the US’s primary authority for communications law, regulation and technological innovation.
If these products are to be exported to the United States, they must be inspected and approved by a government-authorized laboratory in accordance with FCC technical standards. Importers and customs agents to announce each radio frequency device to comply with the FCC standard, i.e. FCC license. At present, the United States has for several years to become China’s second largest trading partner, Sino-US trade volume was growing year by year, so the US exports cannot be underestimated. US product technology standards, import regulations rigorous called the world’s first, understand the US market access rules will help China’s products to further open the US market.
All devices that operate at a clock rate of 9 kHz are required to test their product to the appropriate FCC Code.
GMP Certification
GMP refers to the Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations promulgated by the US Food and Drug Administration under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (See Chapter IV for food, and Chapter V, Sub chapters A, B, C, D, and E for drugs and devices.) These regulations, which have the force of law, require that manufacturers, processors, and packagers of drugs, medical devices, some food, and blood take proactive steps to ensure that their products are safe, pure, and effective. GMP regulations require a quality approach to manufacturing, enabling companies to minimize or eliminate instances of contamination, mixups, and errors. This in turn, protects the consumer from purchasing a product which is not effective or even dangerous. Failure of firms to comply with GMP regulations can result in very serious consequences including recall, seizure, fines, and jail time.
GMP regulations address issues including record keeping, personnel qualifications, sanitation, cleanliness, equipment verification, process validation, and complaint handling. Most GMP requirements are very general and open-ended, allowing each manufacturer to decide individually how to best implement the necessary controls. This provides much flexibility, but also requires that the manufacturer interpret the requirements in a manner which makes sense for each individual business.
All guidelines follow a few basic principles:
- Hygiene: Pharmaceutical manufacturing facility must maintain a clean and hygienic manufacturing area.
- Controlled environmental conditions in order to prevent cross contamination of drug product from other drug or extraneous particulate matter which may render the drug product unsafe for human consumption.
- Manufacturing processes are clearly defined and controlled. All critical processes are validated to ensure consistency and compliance with specifications.
- Manufacturing processes are controlled, and any changes to the process are evaluated. Changes that have an impact on the quality of the drug are validated as necessary.
- Instructions and procedures are written in clear and unambiguous language. (Good Documentation Practices)
- Operators are trained to carry out and document procedures.
- Records are made, manually or by instruments, during manufacture that demonstrate that all the steps required by the defined procedures and instructions were in fact taken and that the quantity and quality of the drug was as expected. Deviations are investigated and documented.
- Records of manufacture (including distribution) that enable the complete history of a batch to be traced are retained in a comprehensible and accessible form.
- The distribution of the drugs minimizes any risk to their quality.
- A system is available for recalling any batch of drug from sale or supply.
- Complaints about marketed drugs are examined, the causes of quality defects are investigated, and appropriate measures are taken with respect to the defective drugs and to prevent recurrence.
Kosher Certification
Kosher certification is one of the most essential steps you can take for your increasing food business. It improves your capability to market your products and allows you to use our Logo to recognize your product as kosher. It is of the highest kosher standard and is accepted by all sectors of the domestic market. It is not however appropriate for export purposes. If you need export certification please fill out the correct application.
All foods and their components and derivatives are divided into 4 categories:
- Meat
- Dairy
- Pareve (Neutral)
- Non-Kosher, which includes mixtures of Meat and Dairy, and mixtures of Meat and Fish.
Kosher certification permits companies to have an edge over their competitors and permits them to sell to more customers than previously and makes export opportunities that previously did not exist to them. It opens up the American market in exacting where Kosher is approximately a market pre-requisite in order to get ones products into the American market. In Israel it is a market necessity and we find that Europe is also following the trend in America so it is a very quick increasing marketplace. Kosher Certification is also taken out by many customers even if they are not selling into the kosher marketplace or to Jewish people as it is seen as a sign of quality and reassurance. Our customers will range from the large multinationals like Proctor & Gamble & Unilever right down to small companies and right across the world from the UK to Indonesia etc.
Did you know that the mass of consumers who buy certified kosher products do so because of perceived quality and safety rather than for religious reasons? Achieve kosher certification will support you enlarge sales substantially because of the rising reputation of kosher food. A growing number of people are adopting kosher food because the kosher certification has become known as a symbol of purity, safety, cleanliness, and quality. By having your products labeled with the kosher certification, you can open up the possibility of attracting new clientele.
Atex Certification
Manufacturers of mechanical and electrical tools, as well as protective systems, intended for safe operation in and around potentially explosive atmospheres and who wish to place their products on the marketplace within the European Union require complying with the ATEX Directive.
The ATEX Directive need tools and protective systems intended for explosive atmospheres to be designed and manufactured to minimize the occurrence and limit the severity of accidental explosion.
The Directive applies to electrical and/or mechanical tools used on the surface, below the ground and on fixed offshore installations. In particular, the Directive covers:
- All tools intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and which are able of causing an explosion through their own potential sources of ignition.
- Protecting systems intended for use in potentially explosive environment. Protective systems are defined as units which are intended to halt incipient explosions instantly and/or to limit the efficient range of explosion flames and explosion forces
- Components, which are definite as any item essential to the safe functioning of tools and protecting systems but with no autonomous function.
HACCP Certification
The HACCP system is a procedure control system guidelines which is applicable to any organization those who are dealing with Manufacturing, trading, supply, retailing, packing, transportation, farming etc of food product. The HACCP system offers the guideline to recognize the food safety Hazards (Physical Hazards, Chemical Hazards & Biological Hazards), evaluation of Food safety Hazards and Food safety Risk analysis, establishing the PRP’s, setting of product characteristics, Critical control points, critical control limits, validation , verification , identification of potential emergency situations related to food safety etc.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is a preventative food safety management system in which every step in the manufacture, storage and distribution of a food product is analyzed for microbiological, physical and chemical hazards.
The effective implementation of HACCP will improve the ability of companies to: protect and increase brands and private labels, promote consumer confidence and conform to regulatory and market needs.
HACCP can be applied to all stages of a food supply chain, from food production and preparation procedures, to packaging and distribution. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) both require HACCP programs for juice, seafood and meat and poultry.
HACCP Principals
- Determine Critical Control Points (CCP). For each risk recognized.
- The application of hazard analysis
- Determination of corrective measures in case the watching shows that the CCP is not within the critical limits.
- Establish procedures for verification and certification processes and the HACCP system is effective and it works well. The verification activities should be included authorized persons employed in production, the HACCP team.
- The establishment and actual management of records and documents
- Establishing critical limits, maximal or minimum value, by which biological, chemical and physical hazards in order to control the pedagogical prevention.
- Determination of processes for monitoring CCPs
CE Marking Certification
The CE marking (an acronym for the French (“Conformite Europeenne”) certifies that a product has met EU health, safety, and environmental requirements, which ensure consumer safety. Manufacturers in the European Union (EU) and abroad must meet CE marking requirements where applicable in order to market their products in Europe. For a list of countries that require the CE marking, see: CE Marking Countries. A manufacturer who has gone through the conformity assessment process, may affix the CE marking to the product. With the CE marking, the product may be marketed throughout the EU. CE marking now provides product access to 32 countries with a population of nearly 500 million.
Unfortunately, there is no comprehensive list of the products that require a CE marking. Therefore, it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to determine if a product requires a CE marking. The “New Approach Directives” are documents that contain the legislation issued by the European Commission on the requirements that need to be met and procedures that must be followed in order for a particular product to be CE marked for sales in the EU.
In order to determine if your product needs a CE marking, you should look in each directive that you judge as related to your product. Our Guide to navigating the CE marking process is organized by directives: CE Marking Guide. Under each directive, we explain the route to CE marking certification step-by-step and in one place.
Some products require conformance to more than one directive. For example, the Safety of Machinery directive, the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) directive, and the Low Voltage Equipment directive may all apply to one product.
Principles of the CE Marking
- Only the manufacturer or his authorised representative shall affix the CE marking.
- The CE marking shall be affixed only to products to which its affixing is provided for by specific Community harmonization legislation, and shall not be affixed to any other product.
- The CE marking shall be the only marking which attests the conformity of the product with the applicable requirements of the relevant Community harmonization legislation providing for its affixing.
- The affixing to a product of markings, signs or inscriptions which are likely to mislead third parties regarding the meaning or form of the CE marking shall be prohibited. Any other marking may be affixed to the product provided that the visibility, legibility and meaning of the CE marking is not thereby impaired.
- Member States shall ensure the correct implementation of the regime governing the CE marking and take appropriate action in the event of improper use of the marking. Member States shall also provide for penalties for infringements, which may include criminal sanctions for serious infringements. Those penalties shall be proportionate to the seriousness of the offence and constitute an effective deterrent against improper use.
Benefits of CE Marking Certification
There are a significant number of advantages of CE marking for the manufacturer and for the consumer. In particular:
- CE marking provides manufacturers with market access to the whole European Economic Area, since countries within this area may not restrict the placing on the market of products bearing the CE marking.
- It guarantees that the product conforms to the regulations in the specific directive(s)
- It is a guarantee for the manufacturer that the product is safe for consumers
- It may significantly reduce damage claims and liability premiums.
Rohs Certification
RoHS, short for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, is specific to the European Union. The law revolves revolves the handling of hazardous materials, ranging from the manufacturing to the disposal of the material. While created inside of Europe for members of the European Union, other regions around the world have utilized and created offshoots of the RoHS. This includes nations throughout Asia (China, Japan and South Korea) and versions of it inside of North America as well. Manufacturers of hazardous material must become RoHS compliant in order to sell and distribute the product inside of the European Union, which is exactly why it is so vital for a company to obtain these credentials. The specific process set in place to assist these companies is rather straight forward though, so it should not prove difficult to follow through with the RoHS certification and RoHS compliance regulations.
In order to obtain the certification, it is necessary to seek out a third party company that provides test reports of the material, material declarations directly from the supplier and what is known as a Declarations of Conformity. It is all about testing the material, making sure its housing, manufacturing and distributing is aligned with the set forward regulations of RoHS,
When working with these third party organizations, they test the presence of different chemical compounds and components, including lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polybrominated biphenyls.
Benefits of RoHS
- Increase of communication across the supply chain serves as a platform for the implementation of REACH and other initiatives.
- Tighter process control, overall reduced number of defects and increased production efficiency (contradicts information appearing elsewhere in the report)
- Increased skill levels in the global workforce due to retraining and the knowledge transfer to Asia and less developed countries (assumes that globalization is driven by RoHS). In addition, “Japanese people and knowledge are seeking inspiration in Europe and the US” (the condescension toward Japan is hard to understand given the statistics on innovation contained within the report).
- Less leaching in landfills because WEEE contains less hazardous material and increased incentives for recycling because lead-free solder contains silver and gold
- Pressure on other sectors (such as aerospace and IT industrial controls) and countries to move to cleaner processes and reduced use of hazardous materials (such as China RoHS and Korea RoHS)
- Competitive advantage for EU manufacturers in markets where RoHS legislation is pending or contemplated
Six Sigma Certification
Six Sigma is a methodology used to improve business processes by utilizing statistical analysis rather than guesswork. This proven approach has been implemented within a myriad of industries to achieve hard and soft money savings, while increasing customer satisfaction. Six Sigma.us is at the forefront of Six Sigma certification and consulting services. We assist organizations with all aspects of the implementation process from training Champions to certifying employees at various belt levels. We can help your company determine the right individuals for training and how to choose potential projects.
The Six Sigma methodology is defined by 5 DMAIC steps. DMAIC is the acronym for Define – Measure – Analyze – Improve – Control. In addition to the 5 DMAIC steps, there is also a step zero that occurs first. It is known as six sigma leadership.
White Belt
Six Sigma quality-improvement methods focus on streamlining processes, reducing errors and improving product quality. The White Belt is offered to provide an overview of Lean and Six Sigma. With this Belt you will be able to begin your journey toward the professional competencies of the Yellow Belt, Green Belt, Black Belt, and Master Black Belt. After obtaining this first level belt, you can become a qualified team member of a Green Belt or Black Belt project.
White Belt Training is the first step to fully understand Lean and Six Sigma methodology and your role in it. If you are uncertain about the Six Sigma methods or if you want to get to know more about its impact, this course is perfect for you.
Yellow Belt
Six Sigma quality-improvement methods focus on streamlining processes, reducing errors and improving product quality.
The Yellow Belt Certification gives you a broad understanding of Lean and Six Sigma quality-improvement methodologies. It helps you develop the capability to understand and use basic measuring tools to gather accurate data and share their expertise in the problem-solving process.
Yellow Belts are tasked with identifying, controlling, and monitoring potential profit loss areas and reporting this information to the Green Belts and Black Belts within the organization.
Green Belt
The Green Belt Certification gives you full understanding of Lean and Six sigma quality-improvement methodologies. This certification will immerse you in the vast improvement process culture, you will learn to improve daily processes using Len and Six Sigma tools. And, you will also learn to define improvement projects to satisfy the customer and reduce variation.
Green Belts are a key piece in Six Sigma projects. Their efficiently executed Lean and Six Sigma techniques can help boost a company’s financial condition. The skills and effective tool use will help individuals to learn and do more within their field of work.
Black Belt
The Black Belts are considered the primary problem solvers in a Lean and Six Simga process. They are devoted full time to conduct Six Sigma projects, DMAIC Projects. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, your mastery of Six Sigma techniques and strategies will help you lead top-quality projects and mentor Green Belts in your organization, where together you will identify and implement breakthrough improvements for enhanced bottom-line results.
Master Black Belt
Master Black Belt is the highest level of Six Sigma expertise. By the end of this level you will succeed in statistical analysis, strategic and policy planning, as well as implementation. As a Master Black Belt your responsibilities include deployment, training, coaching, mentoring, and providing technical support to Green Belts and Black Belts. Your goal as a master is to cultivate a greater appreciation and understanding of the statistical awareness required to be a Six Sigma leader.
At the beginning of each topic is a detailed review of the must knows from Black Belt level material. One result of building the Master Black Belt curriculum from the Black Belt material is to create a deeper understanding of the DMAIC road map. In addition, increasing the knowledge base of statistical methods will assist future Master Black Belts to become better leaders of four week Black Belt programs.
5S Certification
The knowledge of removing waste in any procedures is a premium business skill. The workplace organization and incessant development system of 5S forms the foundation of all waste removal and operational brilliance practices and lean improvement activities.
5S Certification may be as informal as making your own award when your workplace first passes its internal 5S Audit, but it is an important component in having a complete and successful 5S environment.
The purpose of performing 5S Certification is to visibly demonstrate both development and compliance. This is especially important to make improvements in a large workplace with many employees.
Implementing 5S Equals Improved Safety
- Clutter is removed, revealing hidden electrical, chemical or mechanical hazards.
- Employees who have their eyes open for spotting ways to increase using 5S principles will be more conscious of their surroundings and potential safety hazards.
- Cleanliness confirms spills get cleaned up ASAP, eliminating the potential for slips and falls.
- Unsafe practices are eliminated through the standardization step of 5S
- Having needed tools, materials and supplies close to where they are required greatly reduces travel (movement) and as a result reduces the potential for injury.
CMMI Certification
The Capability Maturity Model Integration, or CMMI, is a procedure model that gives a clear definition of what an organization should do to promote behaviors that lead to enhanced performance. With five “Maturity Levels” or three “Capability Levels,” the CMMI defines the most essential elements that are necessary to build great products, or deliver great services, and wraps them all up in a comprehensive model.
CMMI standard for capability maturity model is a confirmed approach to performance management with decades of results showing it works. Organizations having CMMI certification have predictable cost, schedule, efficiency and excellence—business results that serves as discriminators among their competitors.
The CMMI certification is one of many purposes representing the company’s commitment to achieving high level of brilliance performance in the area of software development as well as project management. QRO Cert associated with many software companies internationally and helped them to implements system under well structured our CMMI certification company in their organization which resulted in easy CMMI certification.
Benefits of CMMI Certification
- Centralized QMS for implementation in projects to make sure uniformity in the documents which means less learning cycle for new resources, better management of project status and health
- Cost saving in terms of lesser attempt due to fewer defects and less rework
- Culture for maintaining Quality in projects begin in the mind of the junior programmers to the senior programmers and project managers
- This also results in enlarged Productivity
- Incorporation of Software Engineering Best Practices in the Organizations as explained in CMMI Model
- Enhanced Productivity
- Improved client Satisfaction
- On-Time Deliveries
- Reduces Costs
- Overall enlarged Return on Investment
OHSAS 18001
The standard defines the Occupational health & Safety management system requirements to which organization subscribes. The organization develops the program to meet its policy, objectives and regulatory requirements and works towards continual improvement of the work environment and employee health & safety.
OHSAS 18001 is a globally recognized occupational health and safety management system. The standard defines the system for an organization related to health and safety of the employees and stake holders. The standard considers Prevention as an approach towards health & safety of employees.
An OHSAS 18001 certificate establishes that your organisation is committed to safety and health at the workplace. This proactive approach helps the organization to maintain the better long term relations with employees, contractors.
The standard gives a framework to assess hazards related to processes, work environment and the risks associated. The standard demands to establish the program to reduce the risks and improve upon. The revised standard of 2007 version gives equal importance to occupational health.
An international standard, OHSAS 18001:2007 can integrate with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 for environmental management systems. This is a preferred approach by management so as to take care of the risks related to product, environment and employees.
The organization irrespective of manufacturing or service industry, can benefit of implementing OHSAS 18001:2007 Occupational Health & Safety Management System such as:
- Organizational commitment towards Occupational Health & Safety Improvement develop internal system about Occupational Health & Safety Hazard and Risk from process and product
- Develop Occupational Health & Safety Monitoring Plan covering stage of inspections required to control manufacturing or service delivery process to eliminate, reduce or control health hazards and safety risks.
- HIRA (Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment).
- Increase community faith and stake holder confidence
- Reduce legal obligation related to product, service delivery such as Factory Act, Factory Rules,
- Global market access in terms of export and global recognition
- Independent of personal competency and high reliability on Occupational Health & Safety management system.
- Reduce Accidents, Reduce Incidents, Reduce Legal Non-Compliances,
- Legal Compliance of Factory Act, Factory Rules, Labour Laws, Petroleum Act, Explosive Rules, prohibition rules, poison rules,
- Register of Regulation and Operational Control Plan
- Occupational Health & Safety concerned organizational approach
- Reduce Legal Obligation and compliance inspections.
