Certification according to ISO
For a printer to be compliant with a quality standard such as the ISO
12647, the largest part of the work consists of aligning the different
production processes with the specifications of the standard. This
includes extensive testing and training within all departments of the
company, often in cooperation with external experts. The results of this
process will be higher efficiency, more consistent production and better
compliance with your customer’s needs.
A last important step of this process is certification of the
company, in order to recognise the work done and the results achieved.
In Europe, there are a number of certification bodies, performing audits
and issuing certificates. The Printing Standard Network (PSN) acts as a
platform for these organisations to exchange information and as a source
of information for printers and print buyers interested in this
matter.
The organisations involved in the PSN aim at maintaining the highest
possible quality of their schemes, while cooperating in order to define
common criteria and guidelines.
Certification bodies in Europe
The Netherlands and Belgium
SCGM
The foundation “Stichting Certificatie Grafimedia
branche” (SCGM) is an independent certification institute for
printing, media and packaging industry in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The SCGM provides certification programmes on ISO-level. It certifies
quality, health, safety and environment management systems, ISO 9001,
ISO 14001, ISO 12647, FSC and RI&E.
The SCGM stands for independence. By its specific knowledge of the
printing, media- and packing industry, it has been accredited by the
Royal KVGO and the Kartoflex, the printers’ and packaging
associations in the Netherlands.
www.scgm.nl
Switzerland
Ugra
Ugra is the Swiss Centre of Competence for Media and Printing
Technology. It has been doing research for the printing industry since
more than 50 years. As a member of ISO TC 130, it has established
numerous ISO standards. As a neutral institute located in a neutral
country, Ugra offers services and products for the assessment and
improvement of quality. Furthermore it certifies materials, persons and
companies according to different standards or specifications. Ugra has
an international focus and earns a big part of its turnover in foreign
countries. Its legal form is an association.
www.ugra.ch
In co-operation with Ugra, Viscom has developed a tool thanks to
which the best quality can be achieved all the time – steadily and
with little effort and spoilage: swissPSO.
- Process optimisation: Precise instructions, the selection of
appropriate tools, printing inks and substrates guarantee error
avoidance and high quality.
- Tested quality: The conformity with ISO norms ensures results within
the tolerance level, without spoilage and with quick changeover
time.
- Ideal customer orientation: Customer-friendly behaviour from the
first contact to the delivery – perfectly matched to the
customer’s requests – exceeds the expectations of even the
most demanding print buyer.
Sustainability: Environmental awareness, training concepts and
continuous further development are essential features of the
sustainability of swissPSO.
swissPSO involves the businesses of the printing industry –
from the photographer to the print media processor.
For more detailed information on swissPSO, the introduction and
application of swissPSO, including certification, see www.swiss-pso.com.
Germany
vdm/Fogra
Certification according to ISO 12647-2 - and to "Process Standard
Offset" (PSO) based on ISO 12647-2 is carried out in Germany by
the regional printing and media industries’ associations (vdm,
head organisation: bvdm) and by Fogra. Both organisations are always
acting together as certifier or co-certifier.
www.PSOinsider.de
Bundesverband Druck und Medien (bvdm) is the Employer and Trade
Federation of the German printing and media industries. Bvdm’s
members are 11 regional associations (vdm). They offer services directly
to their member companies (printing companies, prepress and premedia
companies, print finishing etc.). bvdm has commissioned and published
more than 250 technical and research projects on process control,
standardisation in prepress and print and workflow issues.
The work was done in cooperation with research and branch organisations,
namely with Fogra. bvdm supports and coordinates printing standards
application in the industry (ISO 12647) together with other European
associations under the umbrella of Intergraf.
Fogra (Graphic Technology Research Association) promotes print
engineering and its future-oriented technologies in the fields of
research, development and application, enabling the printing industry to
use the results of these activities. The association maintains its own
institute, with about 50 staff members including engineers, chemists and
physicists.
Standardisation on an international scale has been a key issue for both
bvdm and Fogra since decades. bvdm supports comprehensively the work of
ISO Technical Committee 130 Graphic Technology with technical experts,
and is a funder of the ISO TC 130 secretariat. Fogra represents the
chairman of ISO TC 130 as well as the convenor for Working Group 3
(process control) and 4 (media and materials).
Bundesverband Druck und Medien e.V. - bvdm [German Printing and
Media Industries Federation - bvdm] www.bvdm.org Forschungsgesellschaft
Druck e.V. [Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association] www.fogra.org
Lists of certified companies:
vdm / Fogra www.PSOinsider.de (Germany)
CMYQ www.CMYQ.it (Italy)
SCGM www.scgm.nl (Netherlands)
Ugra www.ugra.ch
(Switzerland)
