Assent Compliance

Create an RoHS Recast Technical File – Free Webinar May 23rd.

mattw — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:35 +0000

Assent Compliance will be hosting a free webinar on May 23rd, covering and detailing how to Create an RoHS Recast Technical File.

This will include a discussion on the steps, content and tips for the creation of the file.

Compliance to the RoHS Recast now includes the creation of a technical file

o CE Mark – burden of proof
o What does the file have to include?
o When does the file have to be completed?

How Assent can help with the creation of this file

May 23rd, 2012 – 10 AM EST https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/213212233

May 23rd, 2012 – 2PM EST https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/583304016

We hope you can join us! As always if you have any questions in advance please email us at info@assentcompliance.com

Assent Provides:
• Software Solutions for Environmental Compliance (RoHS, RoHS II, REACH, CLP, Conflict Minerals etc)
• RoHS, REACH, WEEE Consulting
• Engineering Assessments
• Custom Solutions and Support
• General Sustainability Consulting
• Conflict Mineral Compliance Services
Contact Assent Compliance for a free consultation on any compliance related issue

Top 3 Things To Avoid With Compliance Training

mattw — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:22:32 +0000

There is much to learn as you enter into the world of Environmental Compliance. Terminology, the constantly evolving and changing regulations, scope and the right toolbox to use. Through Assent Compliances continuing education of our clients and consulting with the industry here are three critical things we feel you need to avoid during your Compliance Training.

-Overcomplication -
With so much to take in at any given time during your education process, the hardest thing is always keeping things straight and coherent. A wise man once said “if you break things down, everything becomes easy” and that is the first mistake that tends to happen, the overcomplication of the information and processes.

Keep what you are tasked on in scope. Deal with the SVHC’s that are relative to your particular product/company/industry. This will eliminate much confusion as the pot grows bigger. Use information requests for Substances or preparations to streamline the process. Lastly, make sure to educate your suppliers on the regulations you are asking for compliance on.

-Leaving it to your suppliers -

Make sure that the person incharge for your company knows what is expected moving forward. That it is clear that the requirements for declaration are met. Having any ambiguity in the expectations for the documents you should receive or request will cause headaches and the possibility of an incomplete job.

If it is simply left up to your suppliers a minimalistic or incomplete response is a possibility. While an email back saying “yes we comply” is nice in conversation, it does not give a proper declaration to your company.

-Lack of follow-up -

One of the ongoing issues with Compliance Training is the regular flow of new suppliers and personal in existing suppliers (and in your own company). Regular follow-up training is highly recommended to avoid issues with your supply-chain on any level.

What are you some of the hurdles you have come across in your Compliance educational experience?

At Assent Compliance we offer a full range of solutions for Compliance Training and assisting with supply-chains education. Feel free to contact us at any time for this or any of our other services;

What Kind of Support You Should Demand From Your Compliance Vendor!

mattw — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:19:57 +0000

One of the hardest parts to ongoing environmental compliance, once you’ve gotten a system into place to handle the beast that it is, is the continuing support from your vendor.

While ongoing support is commonplace in today’s world, an informed individual wouldn’t buy a new car if there wasn’t some form of protection on it for at least a few years. Why would you let a major business aspect go without any continuing support?

At Assent, we have a three stage approach to support of our product to our clients.

Education
For many individuals Environmental compliance may be a completely new part of their job description, while others may have years of experience. However everyone needs a refresher on where the world is at as it changes so frequently. Free webinars are one way that Assent provides this information to those who feel the need for it.

There are sometimes questions that need to be answered on a more personal basis and of course a one-on-one conversation is always a possibility to resolve any issues.

Support
From Supplier obligations for downstream users to any technical support problems that may be encountered from any level of user a response should be available from your Vendor very quickly. The software should be updated as regulations and lists change and the answers to questions as they develop over time with each of these new changes.

Training
As with any new (and highly customizable) software, training is a concern for many individuals. Training on use and reporting, a full walkthrough and reference material are all tools that should be made available when moving into ECH software.

These are just some of the things that Assent Offers our clients to ensure they get the proper support your company should demand. If interested in any of our services, please contact us at any time.

15 Terms That Can Make Your SaaS Experience Easier

mattw — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:17:37 +0000

Assent Compliance provides SaaS (Software As A Service) compliance solutions to companies ranging from SMB to Fortune 500. During our travels we’ve encountered some SaaS related terms that our clients in the compliance department might not be aware of so we wanted to help! Below is 15 Terms you might find useful.

API (Application Programme Interface)
This is a commonly used acronym, it essentially is a piece of customized software that fetches and returns data in a useable format. This is something that Assent’s platform does very well, as it has functionality that will interface with almost all major PLM’s and ERP systems.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Set of tool(s) that are used to facilitate communications with clients. Assent has built CRM directly into our tool kit, allowing for easier management from your company to your customers

Supplier Information system
Similar to a CRM, but deals specifically with suppliers, a tool to keep track of suppliers. Assent has one of the most advanced SIS systems in the environmental compliance industry.

Agile Approach
A methodology on how to focus a development team towards business objectives while maintaining interaction with Management/Project Sponsors. Typically software that is built in very small phases.

Change Control
A safety net that is built into a system to protect the end user when background tasks or data is being modified.

Content, Communications and Collaboration (CCC)
System that allows for the management, sharing and creation of content

Communication Enabled Business Process (CEBP)
An automated system that removes or significantly limits the human delay that can occur, typically resulting in a higher ROI

Digital Content Creation
Any tool that allows for digital content to be created, whether it is audio, visual, 3D or other content

Mashups
A web tool (module/page/site) that draws upon more than one tool (module/page/site)

Multi-tenant Architecture (Multitenancy)
Hardware infrastructure that allows for multiple clients to utilize one piece of hardware.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)
An online exclusive environment for building a SaaS product.

Service Oriented Architecture
The process of building internal software with the intentions of allowing third party applications or API’s to use the internal program. Governed by a set of rules.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
One method of creating software, 5 stage approach stemming from Requirements —>Maintenance of a finished product.

Virtual Private Networks
Similar to a Local area network but without the geographical restrictions.

WWWC or W3C
The main international standards body for the world wide web, known as the World Wide Web Consortium.

Are there any other terms that you have come across not covered here? If there are any other terms you are curious about or are interested in any other services Assent provides, feel free to contact us at any time.

REACH SVHC – What’s Next? – Webinar

mattw — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:45:48 +0000

In case you missed it … we have you covered. Catch our latest web cast that took place on May 9th on:

• Focus on the next round of SVHCs:

• What are the substances?
• Where are they used?
• When are these expected to be added to the Candidate List?
• Looking ahead to the next possible proposals for SVHCs
• A review of what the current Authorization list looks like
• What substances might be included next?

REACH SVHC's 2012 – Assent Compliance

View more presentations from Matt Whitteker.

New REACH SVHC Web Cast on May 9th

mattw — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:30:47 +0000

Assent Compliance will be hosting the next web cast in our spring series on Weds May 9th. This webinar will be centred around the new and newly proposed REACH SVHC’s.

Topics Include:

• Focus on the next round of SVHCs:

We hope you can join us! As always, if you have any questions you’d like answered during the web cast please email info@assentcompliance.com . We’d love to hear from you! The registration links are posted below:

Morning 10am EST Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/150225888

Afternoon 2pm EST Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/948611145

Did you miss our last webinar? You can watch a recorded version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_m9Oe0txqI

Product Material Declarations For Any Environmental Regulation Web Replay

mattw — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:46:53 +0000

The first Webinar in Assent’s spring series was on Product Material Declations for Any Environmental Regulation. In case you missed it we’ve posted it online.

Join us for our next Web Cast in the Series on: New REACH SVHC. Register below:

Morning 10am EST Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/150225888

Afternoon 2pm EST Registration: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/948611145

Assent Provides:

• Software Solutions for Environmental Compliance (RoHS, RoHS II, REACH, CLP, Conflict Minerals etc)
• RoHS, REACH, WEEE Consulting
• Engineering Assessments
• Custom Solutions and Support
• General Sustainability Consulting
• Conflict Mineral Compliance Services
Contact Assent Compliance for a free consultation on any compliance related issue

Material Declarations For Any Environmental Regulation – Slide Deck

mattw — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:03:25 +0000

In case you missed it here is the slide Deck to accompany our latest web cast on Material Declarations For Any Environmental Regulation.

Material Declarations For Any Environmental Regulation

Did you miss our last webinar? You can watch a recorded version here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_m9Oe0txqI

Conflict Mineral Compliance InfoGraph

mattw — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:14:05 +0000

Our friends at Venkel LTD. leaders in the Surface Mount Components industry. Founded in 1986, the company is headquartered in an area of Austin, Texas known as “Silicon Hills. Just produced a great info graph on the Conflict Mineral Industry. They cited Assent Compliance as a source based on our previous experience in shaping the regulation with the SEC. Assent has been fortunate enough to work with industry, the SEC and various NGO’s to shape current Conflict Mineral Regulations.

Conflict Mineral Com InfoGraph

If your company has any questions about conflict mineral compliance, conflict mineral reports or just general QA. Contact us for a free consultation. info@assentcompliance.com

Assent Provides:

US Manufacturing Industry Rebounding – Compliance A Major Reason.

mattw — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 15:07:52 +0000

The US manufacturing industry has been hard hit in recent years. This has been caused by a plethora of reasons but slowly it is starting to make a comeback. Cal Dooley, president of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) told Globalchem that the chemicals industry has “made a major contribution to the recent resurgence” But warns that a regulatory framework is required to allow innovation.

Luckily this is in the works, earlier this week we wrote about US EPA’s new list of potential chemicals With reform in the TSCA it gives way to “a sound chemicals regulatory framework.” Says Dooley. Dooley also warns that the US should not rush into all encompassing programs like REACH or a similar system to the way Canadians manage their chemical import and exports as it may cause more harm than good to the industry.

In light of this Dooley has said that the ACC has redoubled its efforts “To pursue improvements to the current EPA regulations”.

Help your company bounce back in the manufacturing industry by being informed and compliant with global regulations and future hurdles that can be avoided.