ISO 9001 CERTIFICATION HELPS PREVENT RECALLS AND ESTABLISH PUBLIC TRUST (DEMO)
A September 17, 2013 article published by ISOfocus, the news section of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), shows how toy manufacturer Mattel dealt with quality challenges that led to product recall:
Mattel…has been faced with some rough challenges due to safety scandals revolving around toy design and manufacturing in China. During August 2007 Mattel was forced to recall in extremis certain toys because they contained loose magnets and excess lead that posed immediate danger to the children who played with them.
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Mattel recalled 19 million toys from August to September of 2007 – the biggest recall in the company’s history.
As the world’s largest toy maker, Mattel bears the huge responsibility of ensuring that their toys are safe for millions of children around the globe. How did Mattel eventually recover from those product recalls and regain its standing in the world market? ISOfocus interviewed David Kosnoff, Vice-President of Product Quality and Regulatory Compliance for Mattel, Inc. to learn the answers:
Since 2007, we have worked to enhance our product compliance protocols and procedures to ensure the highest safety standards are followed at Mattel. As the toy industry has become much more regulated, particularly with respect to chemicals, we have significantly increased both the capabilities and capacities of our laboratories, investing in new facilities, new equipment, and highly trained staff.
Aside from increasing their safety standards, the company has been improving their quality to adhere to industry regulations, as well. All of their factories are now required to have ISO certification 9001 for quality management, and all of their laboratories now have ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for laboratory competence. These certifications made a significant impact on enhancing product compliance protocols, thereby reducing the possibility of a recall. They observe compliance measures in each step of the production process to avoid excess lead content upon molding, loose magnets upon completion, or any other issue that may affect the finished quality of the end product.
Although obtaining an ISO 9001 certification is only a part of Mattel’s overall success, meeting ISO standards has helped the company overcome its setbacks and establish trust with the global marketplace. This serves as an example for other companies that aspire to expand their business into other markets, especially around the world. Companies aiming for ISO certification should seek a registrar like the International Standards Authority to know what it takes to achieve the status.
(Info from Play matters, ISOfocus, Published 17 September 2013)
Mattel recalled 19 million toys from August to September of 2007 – the biggest recall in the company’s history.
As the world’s largest toy maker, Mattel bears the huge responsibility of ensuring that their toys are safe for millions of children around the globe. How did Mattel eventually recover from those product recalls and regain its standing in the world market? ISOfocus interviewed David Kosnoff, Vice-President of Product Quality and Regulatory Compliance for Mattel, Inc. to learn the answers:
Since 2007, we have worked to enhance our product compliance protocols and procedures to ensure the highest safety standards are followed at Mattel. As the toy industry has become much more regulated, particularly with respect to chemicals, we have significantly increased both the capabilities and capacities of our laboratories, investing in new facilities, new equipment, and highly trained staff.
Aside from increasing their safety standards, the company has been improving their quality to adhere to industry regulations, as well. All of their factories are now required to have ISO certification 9001 for quality management, and all of their laboratories now have ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for laboratory competence. These certifications made a significant impact on enhancing product compliance protocols, thereby reducing the possibility of a recall. They observe compliance measures in each step of the production process to avoid excess lead content upon molding, loose magnets upon completion, or any other issue that may affect the finished quality of the end product.
Although obtaining an ISO 9001 certification is only a part of Mattel’s overall success, meeting ISO standards has helped the company overcome its setbacks and establish trust with the global marketplace. This serves as an example for other companies that aspire to expand their business into other markets, especially around the world. Companies aiming for ISO certification should seek a registrar like the International Standards Authority to know what it takes to achieve the status.
(Info from Play matters, ISOfocus, Published 17 September 2013)