How can failures in consumer products be prevented by design-phase testing?

Source: ACT Labs

ACT Labs emphasises that early-stage testing is crucial, due to product failures sometimes starting at the design stages, alongside the need to meet increasing regulatory expectations. The LEVA-EU member’s parent company, Cotecna, has published an in-depth article about the importance of design testing.

ACT Labs, an independent, third-party testing laboratory and certification body which specialises in consumer product safety and compliance, explains that product failures don’t always begin at the point of sale, but sometimes in the earlier design stages.

Furthermore, regulatory expectations are becoming ever more stringent, from the EU GPSR to the U.S. CPSIA, which makes early-stage testing more critical than ever.

Cotecna, parent company of ACT Labs, has published its Adding Strength to Supply Chains article, which comprehensively examines how design testing supports the prevention of consumer product failures, ensures compliance, and protects brand reputation. Topics covered include:

• Identifying risks early in the development process, such as electrical safety or mechanical and structural weaknesses
• The use of testing data to strengthen product develoment
• Considering the role of testing, inspection and certification in the product design process
• The prevention of product failure occurrence across the supply chain
• The role of product quality in building consumer trust

The full article can be accessed on the Cotecna website.