At least 15 companies located in Bento Gonçalves will use a new management model and standardize their production process in 2013 Within six months, no furniture company in Brazil will be able to manufacture or import cribs without certification and registration with Inmetro. Directive 269/2011 is a measure taken by the federal government in response to non-conformities found mainly in imported products and which may damage the structure of the unit, causing accidents. The deadline for the sale of cribs that fail to comply with the standards required by law extends until June 2013 and as of 2014, retailers will only be able to sell certified furniture. Approximately fifteen furniture manufacturers located in Bento Gonçalves are preparing to meet the regulations and rely on the advice of Senai Cetemo in this process. The development technician at Senai Cetemo, Luana Bombassaro, explains that to comply with the directive, companies must implement an appropriate management system and all components used have to be tested. Currently, Cetemo has the only laboratory accredited by the Inmetro in Brazil to test cribs. The need for certification will impact both the design of products and components used, affecting the final price of the product. “Those who perceive the legal requirement as a market opportunity will be at the forefront. And, as the directive involves managing the entire manufacturing process, it will be necessary the involvement of all professionals, from the designer to blue-collar workers. For Sindmóveis, the directive will require adaptation by the manufacturers, but it is beneficial for both the consumer and the manufacturing companies, which will have legal advice for making cribs. The president of the association, Cátia Scarton, adds that this will lead to changes also from the suppliers of the furniture industry, since the law restricts the components and raw materials, with a view to safety. “The compulsory certification aims to reduce the risk of accidents. Thus, the entities representing the furniture industry surely support the initiative,” points out Cátia Scarton Ivo Cusin, CEO of Multimóveis, a manufacturing company of childrens furniture, believes that this directive has come into force to adjust some industries that used to put on the market products of inferior quality. He points out that the major difficulty at the moment is to raise awareness among suppliers of the requirements of the law in order to speed up the process to adapt the components. However, as changes in mattress supports, hardware and boards require research and cost adaptation, it might take until the end of the year before all manufacturers have completed the certification process. “If the supervision work is really strict as of next year, companies that comply with the regulations will surely be benefited,” he says. Senai has been providing consultancy services to companies for the interpretation and applicability of the standards to their products, through the dimensional evaluation of lines and indication for strength testing. Senai certification authority in Caxias do Sul follows the entire certification system published in the directive, evaluating the documentation, projects and the management system based on 14 requirements of ISO 9001. Additionally, the factory is audited to verify the quality standardization and collect samples randomly for testing. Registers must be submitted for approval from Inmetro to obtain the seal.
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