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News Release from: IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 22 June 2005
Training courses prepare for RoHS
assessments
The IECQ is the only comprehensive, worldwide, approval and certification programme that assesses electronic components to quality requirements spelled out in international standards.
With more legislation on hazardous substances in electronics and electrical equipment set to come into effect in the future, electronic component companies are under pressure to produce goods that measure up or they risk going out of business To do this, they will need to prove that either their components or their production processes don't involve hazardous substances and for that they need qualified people
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The IEC's quality assessment system for electronic components (IECQ) teaches people to prepare their companies for these assessments.
Its next course, set for Paris, France, from 27th to 29th June 2005, is being hosted by French testing and certification institute LCIE.
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The course helps executives and managers to understand the relevant standards and gives them the knowledge to put into effect a hazardous process management system (HSPM system).
It also provides assessors with the skills to conduct first-, second- and third-party assessments to the relevant standards.
This course follows an event in the Asia-Pacific region that was attended by major manufacturers such as Asustek Computer, SGS and Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials.
In short, it prepares people to determine whether a company can produce, time after time, electrical and electronic components and products that meet legislation on hazardous substances.
Craig Conrad, Senior Vice-President at electronic components distributor TTI is cited in the 29th April 2005 issue of ElectronicNews as saying that some companies are not fully aware of the impact that impending legislation will have and that a number of bankruptcies are almost certain to happen.
The IECQ is the only comprehensive, worldwide, approval and certification programme that assesses electronic components to quality requirements spelled out in international standards.
In 2005 it accepted an EIA/ECCB standard that specifies how to certify a company for producing components and products free of hazardous substances.
The IECQ training course teaches experts how to apply the standard correctly.
A person who takes the first two days of training and passes the exam receives an IECQ certificate that indicates they understand the requirements and understand how to help a company put into effect a process management system for hazardous substances that will pass the IECQ assessment process.
A person who takes all three days of training and passes the examination becomes an IECQ-certified HSPM auditor.
According to Stan Salot Jr, President and CEO of US-based consulting and training company Business and Quality Process Management: "Several manufacturers who have read the standard call it a 'common sense approach'".
"They have also said that this approach should significantly reduce the number of customer assessments they will need to manage".
Generally speaking for electronics manufacturing, there are two scenarios for testing: components and processes.
The first scenario takes the component itself and examines all of its parts and materials to see if any hazardous substances are physically present.
The second examines the manufacturing process to see if any hazardous substances enter into the production line either from outside suppliers or from inside the factory.
Accreditation from the IECQ, which is an independent, third-party system, is essential to satisfy regulators that a manufacturer's processes are free of hazardous materials.
Companies that can manufacture according to the IECQ standard receive a certificate as proof that they can then show to regulatory authorities.
Similar IECQ training courses will be held between July and October in various locations around the USA.
The relevant standards for the IECQ training course are: QC001002-5 IECQ Rules of Procedure Part 5 - Hazardous substance process management requirements; and EIA/ECCB-954: Electrical and electronic components and products hazardous substance free standard and requirements.
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