A few years ago, I managed Product Compliance for the launch of a new product. the project manager said to me: “We'll do compliance at the end, it's just paperwork.”
An economic fault. Because this is exactly where the most costly mistake happen.
Here are 3 typical points that I see in companies and what you can do better:
1️⃣ Product Compliance is considered too late
Often, its only shortly before launch that checks are made to ensure that standards, declarations of conformity and technical documentation are complete and correct.
The result: delays, rework and in the worst case a sales ban.
✅ Better: Integrate compliance into the product development process from the outset. Ideally with fixed milestones in each project.
2️⃣ Trust supplier statements without validation
“Our manufacturer has been doing this for years and said it's fine.”
Without checking for yourself, this can have fatal consequences, because the distributor is always legally liable.
✅ Better: Check documents, verify certificates, request laboratory tests if necessary. Trust is good, compliance is better.
3️⃣ Technical documentation is underestimated
Lack of risk assessment, unclear evidence or no clear component traceability, none of these are minor details but rather mandatory requirements.
✅ Better: Clarify early on which documents are required for which markets. Keep them structured, audit proof and accessible.
My conclusion:
Those who work cleanly here bring products to market faster, more safely, more sustainably and ultimately save a lot of money.
👉 I can help with:
✔️ Setting up a Product Compliance System
✔️ Training managers and specialist departments
✔️ Product Compliance checks
