NORMAPME's activities in New Approach and standardisation

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NORMAPME's activities in New Approach and
standardisation
Sofia, Bulgaria 26th March 2009
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Table of contents

• Standards Pro and cons
• Benefits of standards for enterprises
• Issues of concerns on standardisation
• Why standards do not fit SMEs
• NORMAPME
• Who we are
• What we do (details and examples)
• Communication with SMEs
• How to influence standardisation
• How is the system structured?
• SMEs can access the system (but active
  participation is needed)
• Good results can be achieved

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Pro and cons of standardisation

• Standards benefit or burden?

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Benefits of standards to the economy

• Production of public goods through network
  externalities
• Standards contribute 1 to the annual growth of
  the German economy (DIN study, 2000)
• Standards have contributed 13 towards the growth
  in the productivity of British workers since 1945
  (BSI/DTI study)

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A fact to remember. . .

• 1 European standard
• ... replaces 30 different national standards in
  Europe
• ... creates access to a market of 490 million
  consumers

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Benefits of standardisation for the various
stakeholders

• simplification of the growing variety of products
  and procedures in human life
• variety control and efficient use of materials,
  energy and human resources
• compatibility and inter-changeability
• safety, health, protection of life and the
  environment
• reduction of the degree of market uncertainty
• protection of consumers and community interests
• elimination of trade barriers

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Standards Benefit or Burden?

• Good use of standards reduces cost of operation
• Less product/process variation,
• Reduced risk in exports, in supply to large
  customers
• Legal protection
• Increased efficiency
• What you do right you dont do twice!

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Standards Benefit or Burden?

• Standards should be adapted to the SME structure
  to be used effectively
• Standards can be very costly for Small
  Enterprises if
• designed for the large enterprise only
  (manufacturers),
• too complicated (costly) to use effectively in a
  SME,
• not understood but used as a basis for contracts
  or exports,
• ignored by the SME, in case that a faulty product
  leads to a legal dispute.

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Reality Standards as burdens and costs

• Issues of concerns for SMEs standards shall be
  market driven
• Lack of consideration for practical issues
• Examples, tables, charts are crucial
• Number of references and pages
• Rigidity of the standards
• Simplification of standards
• Standard structure
• - Presentation and organisation
• - Cross reference
• Use of simple language is needed

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Why?

• Lack of consideration for SME concerns
• Limited participation of SMEs in standardisation
• - Due to lack of human resources
• - Due to lack of financial resources
• Overwhelming participation of some types of
  stakeholders
• Standardisation experts have only few knowledge
  of the reality of SME activities

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What should be done

• Improve SME access to standardisation
• Write standards thinking small first
• Improve SMEs participation in TCs
• Write explicit scopes
• Develop training materials for SMEs and standard
  developers
• Write simplified instruction for SMEs, e.g.
  checklists
• Provide solutions for non and small series
  production
• BUT HOW TO DO IT?

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• NORMAPME is the voice of Smes in standardisation
  a useful tool you should use

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NORMAPME who we are
European Office of Crafts, Trades SMEs for
Standardisation

• International and non-profit association
• Sister organisation of UEAPME
• UEAPME/NORMAPME represent 11 M enterprises in EU
  and EFTA countries

SMEs
99 of enterprises
65 M jobs
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NORMAPME what we do
MISSION
Defend the interests of all European SMEs in the
Standardisation process
Actions

• Information on Directives and standardisation
• Formulation on proposals on standards and New
  Approach Directives
• Promotion of the interests of European SMEs on
  standardisation issues
• Present in working groups and Boards discussing
  standardisation at EU level

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NORMAPME in the system
EC
EP
Nat. repres.at EU
National Government
NORMAPME Secretariat
SMEs associations
Members
ESOs
ISOs
NSOs
BTs GAs
BTs GAs
Experts
TCs
ESOs European Standardisation Organisations ISOs
International Standardisation Organisations NSOs
National Standardisation Organisations
BTs Technical Board GAs General Assemblies TCs
Technical Committees
EC European Commission EP European Parliament
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NORMAPME main activities
Technical Committees
NORMAPME aims at representing SMEs interests in
standardisation. Therefore, we recruit experts
for different subjects to follow and report the
work in European and International TCs
SMEs Consultations
NORMAPME aims at representing all European SMEs.
In order to voice their concerns, we undertake
consultations on topics regarding general
standardisation policy or sectoral issues
Political Interventions
NORMAPME influences European standardisation and
political issues via its membership in high
level groups debating how to re-shape the
standardisation system
Projects
NORMAPME aims at providing tools for SMEs and
creating European networks
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NORMAPME details of activities
Technical Committees
NORMAPME has 25 experts for different subjects to
follow and report the work in European and
International TCs. We have experts in the Quality
Managemens System, Electrical Installations,
Timber Structures, Doors and Windows,
Environmental Management System etc
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NORMAPME details of activities
SMEs Consultations

• NORMAPME launches SMEs consultation when the EU
  wants to consult SMEs
• on specific matters dealing with Standardisation
  or Internal Market.
• In particular NORMAPME has launched consultations
  during the last months on
• CEN-CLC SMEs Access Project
• EIM Study on Access to Standardisation
• Currently Impact Assessment of Directive 2004-40
  (Electromagnetic Fields)
• ? Your inputs are always welcome

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NORMAPME details of activities
Political Interventions
NORMAPMEs Director and staff take part in
several working groups and Boards at EU
level This participation is fundamental for
ensuring SMEs raise their voices on how to
re-shape the system (Balanced representation of
interests in TCs is crucial)
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NORMAPME communication how do we inform?
All publications and the website are translated
in six languages ENG, FR, DE, SP, IT and PL
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(No Transcript)
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• Influence standardisation and shape standards
  according to SMEs needs

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The Advantage of Participating in Standardisation
(According to DIN study of 2000)

• 52 of Participating Companies believe they have
  an Advantage over Non-Participating ones
• 60 Believe that Early Access to Information
  gives them a Competitive Edge
• 48 consider it gives them a cost saving.
• In case of Exports this is even more relevant.

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How to influence standards and directives at
European level?

• National committees composition
• Large enterprises
• Government
• Research institutes/Universities
• Consumers (National organisations)
• SME (National/Sector organisations)
• ? European committees composition
• National delegations to be present in NSO
  delegation is crucial
• Sector representation (liaison members without
  voting rights)

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SMEs Can they influence the Standards
Directives at European level?

• Yes
• 1) By being present at national level in the NSO
  and at EU level with a NORMAPME expert
• 2) By your presence in parallel with NORMAPME
  via an European network
• Receive fast information targeted on the needs of
  the SME,
• SME alert system towards Brussels
• Raise your voice on problems encountered on the
  field
• Be constantly in contact with your national
  associations and with NORMAPME

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SMEs Can they influence the Standards
Directives at European level?

• In practice
• If you do not have an expert you can be part of
  Mirror Groups consisting of SMEs from each
  European country and coordinated by one expert
• Submit your input when a consultation is launched
  by NORMAPME
• Go on the website and contact our staff when you
  need more information
• Results
• Standardisation better adapted, closer to the
  needs, better known
• Better results for the enterprise which uses
  standards

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QUESTIONS ?
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Thank you for your attention!
Valentina Mauri T. 32 (0)2 282 0541 E-mail
v.mauri_at_normapme.com Website http//www.normapme.
com