Benefits of a Certification Program

by Brad Wear

Manufacturers face a variety of questions regarding their product. How do I get the most out of my marketplace or break into new markets? How can I be certain of my products quality? How can I reduce some of the financial risk due to damages?  How can I win over consumer confidence to increase my sales? All of those questions can be answered by a Certification Program. A Certification Program shows your commitment to consistent quality, helps to limit liability and is a strong selling point.

“But my product was tested…”

Having your product tested is a good place to start, but testing only provides a snapshot of the products performance at one particular moment in time. Certification takes it one step further by requiring periodic product testing and inspection of your quality system on an on-going basis. Regular testing and inspections show that your product maintains a consistent level of performance over time, and that you care about quality. A certification program offers visible evidence of your due diligence in ensuring a quality product. This can be an attractive incentive to a consumer trying to decide between two products that look similar, when one bears a Certification Mark and the other does not.

“How can a Certification Program help protect me from the liability due to damages?”

Consumers value honesty and consistency, and those products that are honestly represented and consistently perform as expected will receive the consumers trust. Quality system audits and product performance checks can catch failures in production, allowing you to take corrective action long before the product reaches the marketplace. This is yet another safeguard against the consumer purchasing a product that could fail and cause them to lose trust in your company overall, or even to seek damages. So, not only are you proactive in reducing some liability costs, you reap the additional reward of a Good Reputation, and we know how valuable that is!

Some products are required to have a certification program. This is often the case in the building industry, whether residential, commercial or industrial, where a structure must be inspected by a building official. Certifications for a building code requirement may help simplify the approval process with building officials.  A single certification report can be provided instead of possibly having to provide and explain numerous test reports and related information. Since certification reports are public information and posted online, a code official might be able to answer a question they have without even having to contact the manufacturer.

NTA is accredited under ISO/IEC 17065 (view our Certificate of Accreditation) to certify a variety of building products. With our highly trained and experienced test lab, and our network of auditors nationwide, we can partner with you wherever you are!