Choosing the appropriate TAB
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Why is it important to select an appropriate TAB?
Choosing a Technical Assessment Body (TAB) to issue a European Technical Assessment (ETA) is an important decision for manufacturers. Not all TABs are qualified or notified to issue an ETA for any product, and not all possess the necessary experience and knowledge to conduct a precise technical assessment. Selecting the right TAB can mean the difference between a beneficial ETA and one potentially harming the manufacturer.
What is expected of a TAB?
The selected TAB must have solid experience and knowledge of the product and the applicable technical specifications. Preparing an accurate ETA requires a meticulous technical assessment based on comprehensive evidence, such as detailed documentation and tests according to the relevant harmonized technical specifications. Without this foundation, the ETA might not adequately reflect the characteristics and performance of the product, leading to future problems for the manufacturer.
What are the risks of selecting an inappropriate TAB?
Manufacturers must be cautious with TABs that show an excessive willingness to draft ETAs with:
maximum scopes without sufficient evidence (e.g., without having evaluated all the essential characteristics relevant to the product),
in extremely short timeframes, and
at a very low cost.
While it is understandable that manufacturers want to obtain an ETA as quickly and economically as possible, these promises can be misleading. Issuing an ETA under such conditions can result in a superficial assessment, compromising the quality and accuracy of the document, and exposing the manufacturer to unforeseen legal and technical risks.
For instance, if a TAB provides a cost and time estimate for a complex product that seems unusually low compared to other TABs, it could be because the chosen TAB has not thoroughly assessed the project's scope or its true complexity. This type of error can lead to two possible scenarios:
First, the TAB is at risk of running out of funds, which could result in halting the ETA development or requesting a budget extension, leading to unnecessary project delays.
Secondly, the TAB issues the budgeted ETA, resulting in a document of questionable quality, filled with generalizations and superficial assessments of the product. This could pose a significant issue for the ETA holder.
Understandably, a manufacturer might believe that if a TAB is extremely fast and cheap, it is due to their experience and knowledge from developing other similar ETAs or because the preparation of the ETA itself is merely a formality that does not require much dedication. Unfortunately, this reasoning is not entirely correct.
Indeed, the complexity of a product and the experience of a technical assessment body (TAB) are key factors in determining the costs and time required to prepare an ETA. However, ensuring an accurate assessment that benefits the manufacturer and maximizes the product's potential requires a certain level of dedication and effort, which cannot be significantly reduced without compromising the quality of the document.
Where lies the value of a good ETA?
A good ETA not only requires time and resources but also a technical evaluator who is critical and careful. This evaluator must be able to convey to the ETA holder the importance and value of each word in the document. It is of utmost importance, and what gives meaning to the ETA, that the manufacturer does not assume technical and legal responsibilities that do not correspond to them, nor factory production control commitments that they cannot fulfil.
For instance, there have been cases where the responsible technician did not properly distinguish between the components included in the assessed construction system that are not part of the kit and those that belong to the specific kit for which the ETA is being prepared. As a result, these components were mistakenly considered part of the kit, forcing the ETA holder to control and take responsibility for them.
Conclusion
In summary, the choice of an appropriate TAB for issuing an ETA is a decision that must be made with care and consideration A competent TAB with the necessary expertise and knowledge will guarantee an accurate technical assessment, thereby safeguarding the manufacturer from potential future issues. It is essential to prioritize the quality and accuracy of the ETA, ensuring that the document faithfully reflects the capabilities and characteristics of the product.