Newark Issues Rigorous 10-step Quality Assurance Policy
CHICAGO, JANUARY 17, 2006
In Response to UK's RoHS Interpretation
Newark, a subsidiary of global distributor Premier Farnell plc and the leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components and test equipment in North America, announces the implementation of a comprehensive quality assurance policy to help its customers mitigate compliance risks associated with the European Union's Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive.
The RoHS Directive restricts the use of lead and five other substances in electrical and electronic products sold into all EU countries after July 1, 2006, but each country is left to decide how compliance should be demonstrated. In the UK, its appointed RoHS compliance enforcer, the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, has stated that a producer will need to show more than certificates of compliance if its product's compliance status is contested. The producer will need to demonstrate that it has taken undefined "reasonable steps" to confirm the accuracy of the documentation it received for the parts that were designed in, or assembled into its finished product.
To meet this requirement from the UK, Newark and its sister European distributor, Farnell, have developed a 10-step quality assurance policy with due diligence procedures that serve to give their customers confidence in the RoHS compliance status of parts they purchase from them. At Newark, the steps include: conducting a risk assessment process that evaluates the quality of the compliance information it receives from its 440+ suppliers, asking for additional conformance and testing information when risks are identified, inspecting parts during the receiving process, resolving discrepancies with suppliers, notifying customers when they've purchased a misidentified part, and issuing certificates of compliance for customers upon request.
"While our customers generally look to manufacturers to provide them with accurate product data, we are in constant contact with our suppliers, and have the resources required for an effective due diligence program," comments Paul Tallentire, president, Newark. "To create a program similar to ours would be especially challenging for our smaller size customers."
Newark's complete 10-Step Quality Assurance policy can be viewed at www.newark.ca/rohs. Also available at this site is a downloadable RoHS Legislation and Technical Manual, webinars on lead-free soldering and other critical information on the legislation.
About Newark
Newark, a subsidiary of global distributor Premier Farnell Ltd, is North America's leading small-quantity distributor of electronic components and test equipment, and its #1 source for RoHS compliant parts and information. RoHS is the acronym for the European Union's Restrictions of certain Hazardous Substances directive, which took effect July 1, 2006.
Visited by thousands of engineers and electronics buyers each week, Newark's RoHS Express site at www.element14.com/community/community/legislation provides critical information to help companies transition to compliance, including: the latest news, on-demand lead-free soldering webinars, downloadable step-by-step guides to compliance and updates on US and Canadian green laws.
In addition to offering the broadest electronics selection from 440+ top manufacturers for same-day shipping, Newark provides a unique range of value-added services at no charge, including, RoHS Bill of Materials updates, eProcurement implementation and support, and automatic re-reeling for components.
With multiple sales channels, customers do business with Newark through contact centers, a local branch network in the US, Canada, Mexico and Brazil, a dedicated field sales force and a world-class website at www.Newark.com. The holder of a General Services Administration schedule (#GS-06F-0044M,) Newark also supports federal government customers through a dedicated website, www.teamgov.com, and a specially trained team of representatives.
Newark's parent company, Premier Farnell Ltd, is a leading global marketer and distributor of electronic, maintenance repair and operations (MRO) and specialist products and services, trading in more than 100 countries with a database of 2 million customer contacts. For general information, visit www.Newark.com and www.premierfarnell.com. Also, you can reach Newark's media contact, Janice Fleisher, at 773.907.5941 and at jfleisher@Newarkinone.com.
© Copyright 2007. Newark is a service mark of Premier Farnell Corp. All other trademarks, product or service names displayed in this release, registered or unregistered, constitute the intellectual property of their respective holders.