IECQ QC 080000 CERTIFICATION

Would you like to protect your investments, improve quality insurance and bolster your corporate image? IECQ QC 080000 is a standard that helps manufacturers of electronics develop a Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM) scheme.

What is QC 080000, in Details?

A Management System

Do you know ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), or ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety) management systems? Maybe your organization already follows any of those ISO standards. Like QC 080000, these management systems share the same Deming wheel and the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach for continuous improvement. They follow the ISO 9001 steps.

What does QC 080000 Entail?

In a nutshell, this standard is the internationally well-recognized tool used for the HSPM scheme. The requirements include:

Leadership and commitment towards the HSPM system;
The publication of a Hazardous Substance Free (HSF) corporate policy;
Actions to address risks and opportunities;
Planning for HSPM system with HSF objectives;
Implementation of resources to support the HSPM system (HR, databases, monitoring, infrastructures, etc.);
Identification of applicable legal requirements (like EU RoHS, REACh-SVHC, US TSCA, China RoHS, etc.) and hazardous substances;
Implementation of a policy and corporate objectives to control unsafe substances;
Operational management measures of the stages of design and product development;
Action plan (preventive and corrective);
Product technical files and risk management;
Supply chain management;
Evaluation of the performance of the HSPM system;
Documented procedures.

What does IECQ QC 080000 Certified Mean?

Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM) System Requirements

To start, QC 080000 is one of the many standards issued by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), such as IEC 63000. Specifically, its title is Hazardous Substance Process Management (HSPM) System Requirements.

The Role of IECQ

Next, the IECQ (International Electrotechnical Commission Quality Assessment System for Electronic Components) ensures production facilities and products meet the standard requirements via annual audits and emission certificates.

If your HSPM scheme passes the audit, your company can be IECQ QC 080000 certified. IECQ will publish your certificate online on its certification database.

QC 080000 HSPM for RoHS Management

Reduction of Hazardous Substances

Notably, you can build an internal HSPM management system that will help you to demonstrate due diligence and risk assessment for hazardous substances control in manufactured electrical and electronic equipment (EEE).

RoHS, WEEE, REACH, and Other Covered Regulations

With the HSPM scheme, you have one of the best tool to manage:

RoHS regulations worldwide for the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in your products;
WEEE regulations, according to the extended producer responsibility (EPR) of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment;
REACH Registration Evaluation Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals;
TSCA PBT;
Battery regulations;
Packaging restrictions of heavy metals.

QC 080000 and ISO 14001

The Main Difference Between both Standards

ISO 14001 is very broad as it targets any environmental aspects of your organization’s activities, products, and services. Unlike ISO 14001, QC 080000 is more specific. The latter focuses on the management of restricted substances in EEE.

Two Interrelated Management Systems

Significantly, both systems can be imbricated since they share the same processes. Indeed, QC 080000 can be interrelated with the ISO 140001 and specifically manage the environmental aspects concerning hazardous substance impacts in manufactured devices. It also helps you account for the product lifecycle requirements of ISO 140001.

Why Get the QC 080000 Certification?

It will enable your organization to:

Improve quality insurance of your products and reduce costs;

Gain more transparency of your environmental management system via a standardized risk control of hazardous substances;

Have your HSPM system audited by a qualified third party;

Continually improve your HSPM system;

Reduce risks of selling non-compliant products, getting them withdrawn from the market, and having to recall them;

Protect your investments;

Comply with product environmental regulations worldwide;

Access new markets;

Reinforce your corporate image as a responsible corporate citizen;

Reduce the use of hazardous substances and contribute to a safer environment;

Become a Hazardous Substance Free (HSF) facility.

Auditing your QC 080000 System

ISO 19011 is an international guideline for a robust auditing program. Auditors should decide to follow it.

What is Audited in the HSPM System?

Auditors conduct annual audits of every production plant. In brief, they will perform independent research of evidence that the HSPM system is in place and works. Audited documents include:

Internal procedures and processes;
Risk assessments, using, for example, IEC 63000;
Technical files;
Testing reports;
Declarations of conformity.

Questions on QC 080000? Do you wonder how to implement it, need training, or want an audit?

Ask Enviropass!

Environmental Assessment