CHTMAG.COM ACCREDITATION SCHEME SPONSORED FEATURE THE CHSA – DEDICATED TO DRIVING UP STANDARDS The Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) is concentrating its resources on driving up standard in the industry. Its Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes for Soft Tissue, Plastic Refuse Sacks and Industrial Cotton Mops give buyers the confidence that they get what they pay for. In their tenders they are now demanding Accredited Products and as a result the CHSA has seen membership applications soar. In this article the CHSA explains how it is driving this change. For too long buyers of cleaning and MARCH 2016 9 hygiene products have been short changed, said Stephen Harrison, Chairman of the Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association and Managing Director of Harrison Wipes. “We are run by our members as they want to be part of an industry known for its ethical approach, which means we need to challenge unscrupulous suppliers. “We set up the Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes for Soft Tissue, Plastic Refuse Sacks and Industrial Cotton Mops to give buyers the certainty that what’s on the box is in the box: Our Standards, Your Guarantee. “But there is still more to do. So at the start of this year we dedicated our resources to driving up standards and will be announcing later in the year additional initiatives to give buyers of cleaning and hygiene products the confidence that they get what they pay for.” The Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes are a Marque of quality underpinned by a rigorous auditing process. Chairman of the Accreditation Schemes, Mike Stubbs, explains: “The robustness of the audit process is the back bone of the Schemes. It’s this that gives buyers of Accredited products the confidence that what’s on the box is in the box. We’ve invested to increase the frequency and resilience of the auditing process.” Martin Yates, the Independent Inspector of the Schemes visits every member repeatedly through the year, selecting product from the warehouse and production line for inspection. He confirms the labels comply with the relevant Scheme’s specification; buyers need to be able to check that what is on the box is in the box and the product must be traceable to the manufacturer and specific batch. He also confirms the dimensions of the soft tissue are as specified and the industrial cotton mops and refuse sacks are fit for purpose. Martin also audits members’ quality systems to ensure they are as vigilant with their own systems as with the products audited by the Inspector Should a Scheme Member fail to meet the standard, they may be ultimately expelled, a sanction the CHSA has not had to resort to in recent years. Gaining admittance to a Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Scheme is challenging. Applicants must pass the initial audit of their full product range and existing quality assurance processes. They are then audited throughout the first year to ensure they maintain the standard that was required of them to gain membership of one of the Schemes. The CHSA is now concentrating its resources on persuading buyers of cleaning and hygiene products to specify CHSA and Accreditation Scheme membership in tenders. Mike Stubbs said: “Buyers of these products want they receive matches what they thought they were buying . They should demand the very best; product accredited within the Association’s Manufacturing Standards Accreditation Schemes. “Some are already doing so and as a result, applications to join have soared. We’re creating a virtuous circle!” “We are passionate about standards,” concluded Stephen Harrison. “We are determined this industry becomes known for its ethical trading and will continue to work hard to this end.” For more information about the CHSA Manufacturing Standards Accreditation, please visit www.chsa.co.uk or call 0800 243919.
CHT March 2016
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