QS9000 and use in packaging/advertising

[Tom Goetzinger]

You are very correct in saying that the certification applies to your business system, not your product.
Our registrar (NSF) provided us with a detailed booklet explaining how we could use the marks. They were very clear in stating that any misuse of the mark could result in suspension or revocation of our registration.
I would suspect that you could contact your registrar should you need clarification of how you can use the marks or to support of your interpretation of how you can use the mark.
I suspect it would get quite expensive to discard or modify all packaging that said "A QS9000 certified product" on it, and I am sure that is what your registrar would make you do.

[This message has been edited by Tom Goetzinger (edited 05 June 2000).]

 

[Dawn]

We had "QS-9000 Certified" on our packaging with the company name, and our registrar told us we had to remove it. Our packaging (and our company truck) now states "QS-9000 system certified". System is the key. If you put this word on you are clear and safe and your bosses are happy. Hope this helps!

 

[Becky Blosser]

I don't know if anyone else has this problem, but it keeps coming up at my company. I'd like a diplomatic way to settle it once and for all.

The president and VP of Marketing keep wanting to put "A QS9000 certified product" on packaging, even packaging that does not bear the company name (go figure). The management rep keeps telling them that QS9000 does NOT relate to the product, but to the management system. We have contacted AIAG and received their guidelines and passed them on to the president & VP, but these guys don't seem to understand. The VP claims that at his former company, they used the phrase on all their advertising/packaging. I've asked if he can produce a copy of any item that was actually used with that phrase. He has produced a prototype produced by that company that was never used.

What's a good way to make the point, or is there a good way to word the advertising to make it legal?

 

[mibusha]

If you sit through the closing meeting of a successful QS 9000 registration audit, the auditor will very clearly state the terms. You cannot use the QS 9000 logo or name to imply that your product is "certified". You can use the logo and name to state that your quality system is certified.

It would be an expensive lesson to put on your packaging and/or stationery that your product is certified. Instead simply state "A QS 9000 Certified Company" or something similar.

 

[Becky Blosser]

Yes, the Management Rep and I know this, and we've explained it to the President and VP of Marketing. They have also sat in on closing meetings and have seen the guidelines from AIAG. They just don't seem to hear us.

It's driving the packaging designer nuts, too - he's caught between the Management Rep and the VP.

The thing I really don't understand is why the VP wants this on generic packaging. I could understand on the branded packaging, but not the generic. Maybe it's just me.....

 

[mibusha]

Perhaps you could meet the VP halfway. make stickers with "QS 9000 certified product" written on them. Use them until the Registrar threatens you with revocation, then simply through the stickers away! That, and gloat, of course!

 

[mibusha]

Or would that be...THROW the stickers away?

 

[Christian Lupo]

You may want to ask your registrar to issue your VP a letter stating that your certification is in danger of being revoked if you indicate product certifcation. I'm sure your registrar would since their accreditation could be revoked.

I had the same arguement with our marketing people. They wanted to take it a step further and change the registrars logo cause it was not "pretty" enough.