7.1 …more about IEC

Conformity Assessment (One of the most important domain)

IEC creats/formulate/assess/maintain International Standards .

Standards provide written instructions; conformity assessment verifies that these instructions are properly applied in real-world technical devices and systems.

Let us consult IEC about this process :-

Conformity assessment refers to any activity that determines whether a product, system, service and sometimes people fulfil the requirements and characteristics described in a standard or specification. Such requirements can include performance, safety, efficiency, effectiveness, reliability, durability, or environmental impacts such as pollution or noise, for example. Verification is generally done through testing or/and inspection. This may or may not include on-going verification.

IEC manages and supervises the process through Conformity Assessment Board

OUTCOME

….cont..

The need for all this expensive and lengthy exercise is to demonstrate to all the stakeholders (with documented proof : the Compliance Certificate) that the product in consideration is safe and its performamce ( regarding all the parameters like efficiency, reliability ,sustainability etc. ) is as per its design (“Promised” as per IEC)

In short :Conformity assessment provides the necessary proof, based on standards.

(https://www.iec.ch/conformity-assessment/what-conformity-assessment )

Tasting (Testing) and Certification

While the IEC does not perform testing and certification activities itself, it provides a framework in which professional certification bodies and testing laboratories from around the world participate in the IEC Conformity Assessment (CA) Systems. These CA Systems form the only globally standardized approach to testing and certification and are effectively the biggest functioning multilateral agreement in the world. Every member participating in a CA scheme accepts the test results and certificates of all the other members of that CA scheme. As a result duplication of testing is largely avoided and products can be brought to market faster and at less cost.

https://www.iec.ch/conformity-assessment/what-conformity-assessment