BSI (British Standards Institution)
 

Formed in 1901 by royal charter, BSI is a royal charter organisation created to help British industry compete in European and international trade markets. It provides a range of services to its members and to industry in general, from its well known British Standards and excellent standards information facilities to its world renowned mark of product quality, the Kitemark. BSI also boasts a wealth of technical knowledge gathered over ninety-six years in the business of giving Britain a competitive advantage. BSI was the world's first Standards Making body, and remains to this day as the UK's representative for European and international standardisation.

BSI has operated certification schemes to BS EN ISO 9000 since 1979.

BSI's registered certification mark, the Kitemark, and its Registered Firm symbol are instantly recognised by customers and suppliers respectively, promoting a company's reliability and commitment to product quality. The Kitemark combines BSI Testing's extensive facilities and ability to certify products against almost any existing British, European or International Standard with the industry sector experience and knowledge gained over many years. The result is a world renowned certificate which carries the authority of BSI.

With the advent of new European legislation in the shape of the New Approach Directives manufacturers are being forced to look carefully at their products. The directives require manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe and fit for the purpose they were originally intended for before they are put on sale in the Community market. Importantly, many of the directives require manufacturers to provide evidence that they have complied with them - in the form of CE Marking. CE Marking can be as simple as devising a technical file, or as complex as regularly submitting your products to third party scrutiny depending on the product. BSI Testing is a Notified Body under many of the directives and can assist manufacturers in complying with this new legislation.

BSI can also offer extensive technical information to customers through its Information service. With access to the largest collection of technical information to customers through its Standards Information service. With access to the largest collection of technical documents in Europe, experts on export regulations and the legal requirements of the New Approach Directives, the Information department can offer excellent consultancy facilities and even offers a technical translation service. BSI's training services offers a wide range of complementary training services including courses on all aspects of ISO 9000 implementation, the new Environmental Management standard ISO 14000, EMAS certification and training courses for assessors and lead assessors to the majority of quality standards.

The attraction of coming to BSI is that it offers the complete one-stop service that no other body can. Whether your needs are simple, or you wish to combine ISO 9000 registration with complex consultancy and product design testing, BSI can provide all the services you will require.

BSI can offer the following BS EN ISO 9000 based certification services:

The registration of organisations, including stockists, distributors and service providers
Product certification to the Kitemark
CE Marking (not BS EN ISO 9000 based)
Approval systems for electronic components including CECC, BS 9000 and IECQ
TickIT registration for organisations which include any aspects of software development.
Registration of Call Routing Appliance Maintainers (CRAM) and Call Routing Apparatus Installers and UKAS/TQAB/QAS1 and 2 following deregulation of these activities.
QS9000, the automotive industry standard.

BSI QA assessment to BS EN ISO 9000 demonstrates to customers that your organisation is committed to quality, able to meet their requirements efficiently and consistently and that your organisation's quality management system is independently proven.

Benefits of registration to the standard can be gained internally and in the market place. Registered firms in this country and around the world have pointed to increased profits, cost savings from reduction of waste, better use of time and resources, improved product/service consistency, eventually leading to increased customer satisfaction.

The scope of assessment is determined by a firm's declared range of products or services. Each assessment is individually planned to evaluate the quality system against the requirements of BS EN ISO 9000 in relation to the organisation's specific technologies. On formal application for registration, a locally based Client Manager with experience in the particular industry sector is assigned to support each organisation through the process and beyond, building a valuable partnership between BSI and the organisation.

BSI also offer a full registration service to the current range of environmental management standards: EMAS and ISO 14000. BSI is also accredited to provide assessment services to QS 9000 the automotive industry standard.

BSI is constantly alert to its customers' requirements for external marks of recognition of compliance with good practice. Examples include BS 7768 for Document Image Storage System Management and BS 7799 for Information Security Management.

Registration of Stockists to BS EN ISO 9000 and Distributors of Electronic Components

Stockists registered to BS EN ISO 9002 are able to supply quality assured product which is lot or batch traceable and covered by the manufacturer's certificate of conformity. Stockists can also supply quality assured product which is not lot or batch traceable.

CECC/BS 9000/IECQ distributors are uniquely qualified to stock and distribute electronic components sourced from, and authorised by CECC or BS 9000 or IECQ approved manufacturers. The registration certificate identifies those products available from the manufacturers holding BS EN ISO 9000 registration or equivalent.

CECC*/BS 9000/IECQ* SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS
These systems provide comprehensive arrangements for the third party assessment of electronic component suppliers' quality assurance systems and their products. Component manufacturers, specialist contractors, distributors and independent test laboratories are eligible. Procedures include the methodology for writing technical specifications, the means for assessing production processes and the certification of component conformance to specification. All 3 systems are similar to the European CECC system and are administered in the UK by BSI QA.
* CECC - CENELEC Electronic Component Committee.
* IECQ - The IEC Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components.

Registration of Maintainers of Call Routing Apparatus
Maintainers of telephone equipment (call routing apparatus or serially connected equipment) can voluntarily elect to incorporate the UK Accreditation Service document UKAS/TQAB/QAS1 into their quality management system. This demonstrates to their customers their commitment to the spirit of the earlier OFTEL 'QAG' regulation.

Installers of telephone systems (also referred to as call routing apparatus, or CRA) can commit to the UK Accreditation Service document UKAS/TQAB/QAS2 as part of their quality system. This shows customers their adherence to the principles of the previous OFTEL/QAG2 scheme, especially in respect of observance of important wiring codes.

TickIT Registration
TickIT, launched by the DTI, is the application of BS EN ISO 9001 to companies including software design and development in their scope. BSI has considerable assessing experience in this field. The scheme requires a company to undergo triennial assessment which is not normally imposed on other organisations by BSI.

BSI PRODUCT CERTIFICATION AND THE KITEMARK

BSI Product Certification combines the requirements of BS EN ISO 9000 based quality systems with BSI's excellent testing facilities to provide industry with a unique service - the Kitemark. BSI's Kitemark is recognised worldwide as a mark of product quality and safety. Your product, tested to a relevant British, European or International standard, is awarded the Kitemark only if it passes the tests within the relevant standards and continues to do so. Your company must also undergo satisfactory assessment of the production control procedures used to maintain consistent manufactured product quality - this can be done by operating a BS EN ISO 9000 based management system, but other routes can also be taken to satisfy this requirement. The benefits of Kitemark certification are manifold, but the most important is the recognition by consumers that a product carrying the Kitemark is a product to be trusted.

Once compliance with the stringent requirements of a Kitemark scheme is assured, the manufacturer can then be licensed to feature the Kitemark on the product itself.

Contact:

For information about BSI Testing's facilities and CE Marking contact:

BSI Testing
Maylands Avenue
Hemel Hempstead
Herts
HP2 4SQ

Tel: +44 (0)1442 230442
Fax: +44 (0)1442 231442

For BSI Product Certification, Standards Information, or BSI Training Services and Assessment services contact:

389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL

Tel: +44 (0)208 996 7055
Fax: +44 (0)208 996 7364

Head Office
389 Chiswick High Road
London
W4 4AL
UK

BSI Management Systems
PO Box 9000
Milton Keynes
MK14 6WT
UK

Contact
John Syddall

Tel: +44 (0)845 080 9000
Fax: +44 (0)845 080 9000
E-mail: john.syddall@bsi-global.com
Website: www.bsi-global.com

Accredited scope of BSI:

See listing on UKAS site

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