Source: BAM
The Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), the Technical University (TU) Berlin, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) and New Zealand's Canterbury University have launched a study on digitalisation in conformity assessment in Germany as part of the QI-FoKuS research initiative. The digital transformation of the economy (Industry 4.0) and more and more digitalised, networked and complex products and applications are also bringing digitalisation into the focus of conformity assessment bodies (CABs). Innovations, new technologies and processes are thus dependent on corresponding conformity assessment services. This poses new challenges for testing and calibration laboratories, inspection and certification bodies, and other conformity assessment bodies. At the same time, however, digitalisation also offers many opportunities.
With the help of an online survey of accredited CABs of all types, the partners want to systematically investigate "digitalisation in conformity assessment" for the first time. The focus is on determining the digital maturity level of CABs as well as the drivers and effects. At the same time, the hurdles of digitalisation as well as technological trends are to be identified.
The survey has started and will be accomplished by the end of January 2022.
Interested conformity assessment bodies can participate at this link.
In addition to conformity assessment bodies in Germany, accredited CABs in other European countries and overseas are also surveyed - in cooperation with national accreditation bodies. This enables an international comparison.
The scientific concept and evaluation are carried out by BAM together with Prof. Knut Blind from the TU Berlin and Prof. Pavel Castka from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand).
The QI-FoKuS (Quality Infrastructure - Research for Conformity Assessment and Safety) initiative was launched in autumn 2019 by BAM together with the TU Berlin and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action.
QI-FoKuS serves to create a better and long-term data basis for better understanding the benefits of conformity assessment and accreditation. The results also help to recognise necessary changes due to technical and economic developments and crisis situations at an early stage and to identify trends and the resulting need for action.
Participating conformity assessment bodies will receive a detailed evaluation of the results before the official publication of the study and can use them to benchmark themselves against the rest of the sector.
For more information on QI-FoKuS, the current and completed surveys as well as the link to the questionnaire, visit www.qi-fokus.de.