IEC Quality Assessment System, IECQ, offers industry specific global conformity assessment certification schemes for specialized services that support environmental sustainability, supply chain management, and manufacturing of component products, thru its IECQ accepted certification bodies (IECQ CBs).  The IECQ provides globally harmonized certification & verification services for industry (including electrotechnical) thru IECQ CBs, many of which are known and operating across more than 40 countries, with international IECQ certificates and verification statements publicly available in the IECQ centralized on-line certificate system for instant checking and validation. 

The IEC an international standards and conformity assessment organization operates a quality assessment system known as IECQ to instil trust and confidence in the marketplace.

IECQ offers industry-specific global certification schemes for specialized services that support environmental sustainability, supply chain management, and manufacturing of component products, thru its IECQ accepted & accredited certification bodies (IECQ-CBs). These certification schemes provide manufacturers and service providers with independent verification that their suppliers comply with component/process specifications and/or IEC/ISO International Standards.

Environmental Services Supporting the Circular Economy

Specialised Services Supporting Supply Chain Management

Specialised Services Supporting the Manufacturing of Component Products

Please refer to About us for further information.

Conformity assessment certification is the process of evaluating and verifying whether a product, service, or system meets specific requirements or standards. The process typically involves a series of tests, inspections, and audits conducted by an independent third-party organization.

The steps involved in the conformity assessment certification process are:

1. Determine the applicable standards and specifications: The first step in the process is to identify the relevant standards, specifications and regulations that apply to the product, service, or system in question. This may include local, national, or international standard

2. Select a certification body: Once the applicable standards have been identified, the next step is to select an IECQ certification body that is accredited to perform the necessary testing, inspection, or audit.
    
3. Testing and evaluation: The certification body will perform the necessary tests, inspections, or audits to evaluate whether the product, service, or system meets the applicable standards/specifications.
    
4. Report generation: Based on the results of the evaluation, the certification body will generate a report that outlines the findings and any necessary corrective actions.
    
5. Certification: If the product, service, or system meets the applicable standards/specifications and any applicable scheme rules, the certification body will issue an IECQ certificate indicating that it has been certified.
    
6. Surveillance: The certification body conducts periodic surveillance to ensure that the product, service, or system continues to meet the applicable standards/specifications.

Conformity assessment certification can be a complex process, and the specific steps involved may vary depending on the product, service, or system being evaluated. However, the basic principles of the process remain the same, with the goal of ensuring that products, services, or systems meet established standards and regulations. Contact an IECQ approved Certification Body (CB) for further details.

The need for establishing IECQ, the IEC Quality Assessment System, can be traced back to the recognition of the importance of testing, measurement, and quality assurance in various industries. Lord William Thomson Kelvin, a renowned physicist, emphasized the significance of measuring and expressing knowledge in numbers. The origins of IECQ can be linked to the defense industry's requirement for consistent and standardized electrical components. In the 1950s and 1960s, companies supplying the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom had to develop written procedures for their products, have them inspected by the MoD, and ensure compliance with the published procedures.

Today the IECQ operates industry-specific global certification services that are used across a number of markets/areas as noted in About us.

IECQ certification is valid for three years and requires surveillance audits to ensure that the product or material continues to meet the relevant IECQ standards.

The benefits of obtaining IECQ certification include increased customer confidence, improved market access, reduced costs, and enhanced reputation.

By using IECQ-certified suppliers, manufacturers and service providers can have confidence that their products meet rigorous quality and environmental standards, giving them a competitive advantage in today's marketplace.

The IEC and its quality assessment system, IECQ, bring several benefits to governments. Here are some of the key advantages:

• Harmonization of Standards
• Facilitating International Trade
• Quality Assurance and Consumer Protection
• Regulatory Support
• Exchange of Information and Best Practices
• Stakeholder Engagement

In summary, IEC and IECQ provide governments with harmonized standards, quality assurance mechanisms, support for international trade, consumer protection, regulatory guidance, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement. These benefits help governments enhance the safety, quality, and efficiency of electrical and electronic technologies within their jurisdictions while promoting global collaboration and market access. For further information visit the Who benefits page of the IECQ website.

IECQ certification brings several benefits to developing countries. Here are some key advantages:

• Market Access
• Quality Assurance
• Consumer Confidence
• Technology Transfer
• Capacity Building
• Global Collaboration

In summary, IECQ certification brings market access, quality assurance, consumer confidence, technology transfer, capacity building, and global collaboration opportunities to developing countries. It enables them to compete in the global marketplace, enhance their products' quality, protect consumers, and foster the growth and development of their industries.

The cost of obtaining IECQ certification varies depending on several factors, such as the type of certification or verification required and the size and complexity of the product or material. Contact an IECQ approved Certification Body to receive a quote based on the scope of the work.

Any manufacturer or supplier of component product, assemblies, related materials, or services can apply for IECQ certification. Please refer to the list of approved IECQ certification bodies who can assist you further for conformity assessement.

IECQ approved process (IECQ AP)
Process certification ensures that a company's processes comply with established standards or technical specifications. A third-party assessment by an IECQ CB verifies compliance.

IECQ approved component (IECQ AC) 
Component product certification verifies compliance with declared international standards and technical specifications. An IECQ CB conducts third-party assessment and testing of the component's design, manufacturing, and performance.

The IECQ Approved Process Scheme (AP) certification ensures that a company's processes comply with established standards or technical specifications. A third-party assessment by an IECQ CB verifies compliance. Companies and organizations can obtain certification for the following:

• Specialized Process, e.g., Specialty Service Providers and Distributors
• Counterfeit Avoidance Programme
• Electrostatic Discharge Control (ESD), to IEC 61340-5-1
• Nuclear Industry Supply Chain, to ISO 19443 (Important to Nuclear Safety)
• Information Security Management, to ISO/IEC 27001 (includes cyber-security)
• IECQ Avionics Parts and Assembly Management, to IEC 62239-1

In addition, certification or verification statements can be obtained for the IECQ Environmental Services Supporting the Circular Economy. They include the following:

• Carbon Footprint of Product Verification, to ISO 14067
• Environmentally Conscious Design (Eco-Design) to IEC 62430
• Restricted/Hazardous Substances Process Management (HSPM), to IECQ QC 080000

The main market driver for an IECQ supplier qualification is the increasing demand for high-quality, reliable, and compliant electrotechnical components in various industries. As technology advances and products become more complex, there is a growing need for electrotechnical components that meet stringent quality and safety standards.

IECQ supplier qualification provides a recognized internationally harmonized certification demonstrating a supplier’s capability to consistently deliver electrotechnical components that meet the required standards/specifications. This qualification assures customers that the supplier has robust quality management systems, adheres to industry best practices, and complies with relevant international standards.

The market driver for IECQ supplier qualification stems from the following factors:

• Customer Expectations
• Compliance and Regulations
• Risk Mitigation
• Global Market Access
• Competitive Advantage

In summary, the main market driver for an IECQ supplier qualification is the increasing demand for high-quality, compliant electrotechnical components that meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, mitigate risks, enable global market access, and provide a competitive advantage.

Electrotechnical equipment may contain restricted/hazardous substances, which can be harmful to human health and detrimental to the environment.

Restricted substances –

Examples include (ref: EU RoHS 2 Directive 2011/65/EU @ 2023), among others:

• Lead, Pb;
• Mercury, Hg;
• Cadmium, Cd;
• Hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI).
• Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) PBB (polybrominated biphenyls)
• Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) PBDE (polybrominated biphenyl ethers)
• Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
• Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) 
• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)
• Diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP)

Note: The industry can adapt to regulations, as the global phase-out of lead solder demonstrates, ban in 2006 by the EU. Visit the Restricted/hazardous substance process management page on the IECQ for further information. 

As a supply change management tool, IECQ covers the design, manufacture, assembly and distribution of electronic component parts and related materials and processes with specific emphasis on:

• Active components, including integrated circuits;
• Electromagnetic components;
• Electromechanical components;
• Electro-optic components;
• Hybrid integrated circuits;
• Passive components;
• Printed wiring boards;
• Wire, cables and connectors;
• Assemblies;
• Component Modules;
• Ancillary items e.g. Insulator / shielding materials, heat transfer compounds and materials etc.;
• Electronic part enclosures and housing materials.

Visit the IECQ Component Product services for further information.

It demonstrates to the international marketplace that through testing and other verification criteria, the certified organization and facilities comply with the requirements of the IECQ System and the relevant declared technical standards and specifications for their scope of activity.

It demonstrates that products and related materials and assemblies produced within the defined scope of activity covered by the IECQ AC certificate are recognized as IECQ certified.

It demonstrates to the market that the certified organization’s Suppliers Declaration of Conformity can be believed and trusted because the components have been produced using manufacturing processes which have been successfully assessed and are under constant surveillance by an independent, internationally accepted IECQ certification body.

Organizations who are interested in obtaining an IECQ Verification Statement for the IECQ Carbon Footprint of Product, should contact an approved IECQ Certification Body (IECQ CB) that holds the approved service within their IECQ CB scope.  The Environmental Services Supporting the Circular Economy page on the IECQ website, contains the CBs who are approved for the Carbon Footprint service.

Yes, the IECQ Carbon Footprint of Product verification service is based on Standard ISO 14067, and the approved IECQ Certification Bodies can issue international IECQ Carbon Footprint of Product verification statements for any product or service. 

The IECQ verification programme is based on ISO 14067 Greenhouse gases – Carbon footprint of products – Requirements and guidelines for quantification.