How ASICs can help businesses maintain and prove compliance
MEASUREMENT & MONITORING REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
SWINDON SILICON SYSTEMS
How ASICs can help businesses maintain and prove compliance
How do you prove your facilities are compliant ? Gathering data , reports and logs from every inch of the manufacturing shop floor can take time , and it might not be as comprehensive as one might wish . Here , Richard Mount , Director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems , explains how ASIC-driven smart sensors can help businesses maintain and prove regulatory compliance .
The manufacturing sector is a major UK industry , accounting for around eight per cent of the workforce and just under ten per cent of the country ’ s total economic output . With millions of employees across the country , and vast amounts of products manufactured each day , there must be an element of standardisation to ensure that work is performed safely , and that products meet specifications .
Regulations are crucial in achieving this . Government and industry bodies set standards across areas including health and safety , environmental impact , and process quality . Meeting these standards often requires extensive reporting on the part of the manufacturer , which may include historical data , detailed process methods , and maintenance logs .
Penalties for non-compliance are typically fines , but if the business is not proven to meet other regulations , such as ISO , these certifications may also be lost . On top of that , businesses may need to cover the cost of inspection . Government agency HSE will recuperate costs for inspection of health and safety legislation breaches at £ 163 per hour , a significant financial cost to businesses .
Additional implications such as reduced consumer trust and damaged reputation also come with non-compliance . So , how can manufacturers ensure they are compliant — and prove it ?
96 PECM Issue 64