Today, machinery conformity assessment activities have evolved significantly due to advancing technology and the growing importance of standards. SZUTEST, established 2005 in Isatanbul, refers to this shift as next-generation machinery conformity assessment activities.
In this context, an organization conducting machinery conformity assessment must first be accredited by the European Commission and then by our national accreditation body, the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK). Therefore, a notified body applies the necessary inspections and tests related to the standards under the regulations for which it is accredited and reports the results. With this logic in mind, services such as PL verification and ESPE measurements, which have recently gained importance in relation to machinery, including standards like EN 13849-1 and EN 13855, must also be conducted by organizations accredited under the relevant regulation.
The importance of accreditation in machinery conformity assessment activities can be considered from several perspectives:
- Reliability and Trust: An accredited organization provides independent verification of compliance with a specific standard or directive, adding reliability to this verification. Therefore, the results of assessments conducted by accredited organizations are generally considered more trustworthy.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: In some countries, tests and certifications conducted by accredited organizations are required for the evaluation of specific products or processes. Accreditation is crucial to meet such legal and regulatory requirements.
- International Recognition and Acceptance: Accredited organizations usually operate according to international standards, which gives them the advantage of recognition and acceptance at the international level. This facilitates the entry of products or processes into global markets.
- Quality and Process Management: The accreditation process can help organizations improve their own processes and quality management systems. Accreditation criteria provide a framework for continuous improvement and strengthening of quality assurance systems.
- Consumer and Corporate Confidence: Certificates or reports issued by an accredited organization can serve as a reliable reference for consumers and business partners. This can provide a competitive advantage in the market and increase customer satisfaction.
The potential drawbacks of non-accredited organizations conducting conformity assessments for machinery include:
- Reliability Issues: There may be doubts about the reliability of assessments performed by non-accredited organizations. These organizations may not fully implement the quality control procedures required by certain standards or directives.
- Legal Problems: In some countries, tests and certifications conducted by accredited organizations are legally required for the evaluation of certain products or machinery. Certificates issued by non-accredited organizations may not be legally valid, leading to legal complications.
- Deficiencies in Quality Standards: Non-accredited organizations may lack the capacity to ensure compliance with national or international quality standards. This can result in products or machinery failing to meet expected safety, performance, and quality standards.
- Increased Costs and Inefficiency: Certificates or assessment processes carried out by non-accredited organizations may not be accepted in international markets, complicating the commercial acceptance of products or machinery. This can lead to increased costs and inefficiencies.
- Loss of Customer Confidence: Certificates or assessment reports issued by non-accredited organizations may cause a loss of trust among customers. Customers may have concerns about the conformity of products or machinery to certain standards, which can negatively impact sales.
A notified body does not concern itself with the brand or model of components used by the manufacturer or designer when conducting conformity assessment activities on machinery. What matters is whether that component has undergone a conformity assessment. An accredited notified body does not pursue any purpose outside of conformity assessment.
In conclusion, accreditation in machinery conformity assessment activities brings many significant benefits, such as reliability, legal compliance, international acceptance, quality management, and consumer confidence. Therefore, it is important to consider these factors when researching and evaluating an organization’s accreditation. Non-accredited organizations conducting conformity assessments on machinery can lead to issues in reliability, legal compliance, quality standards, and customer trust. As a result, choosing accredited organizations for conformity assessment processes is generally a healthier and more reliable approach.
ABOUT SZUTEST:
The company was established and started its activities in Istanbul in 2005. Having acquired its own accreditation and notifications in 2007, SZUTEST is now accredited according to ISO/IEC 17020 as Inspection Body of Type A, ISO/IEC 17065 as Product Certification Body, ISO/IEC 17024 as Personnel Certification Body by TURKAK-Turkish Accreditation Agency and according to ISO/IEC 17021 as System Certification body by TURKAK-Turkish Accreditation Agency and International Accreditation Services-IAS. SZUTEST is authorized as Notified Body with number 2195 for performing of CE Marking Conformity Assessment Services in accordance with the relevant directives/regulations of EU Commission.
