The Effect of Implementing European Union Safety Standards on the Machine Product Industry in Taiwan

The European Union has, since 1995, specified safety requirements to ensure that machinery products sold are produced and designed according to certain safety standards. This requires that the producer should prepare related documents and label the CE marking on the products. All of the machinery product manufacturers in Taiwan are well aware of the importance of CE marking. However, the qualification process of the CE marking declaration still encounters many difficulties and bottlenecks. This study investigates the barriers to LVD directive certification in the CE marking declaration process for Taiwanese machinery product manufacturers. A survey is made of Taiwanese machinery product manufacturers that successfully implemented the CE marking process, by use of questionnaires. This study also analyzes the major points involved in the process of quality CE marking declaration, and the information feedback and internal control methodologies adopted by these machinery manufacturers. Finally, this study develops a systematic procedure to help machinery manufacturers in the CE marking declaration process. Introduction Attempts have been made to ensure the quality of products sold to the European Union by adopting a common standard for all machinery products to satisfy production and design safety requirements. Products should also be enclosed with related documents and labelling upon shipping to the market [6,7,9]. The standard has been released by the European Union and confirmed by Regulation (as REG), Directive (as DIR), Resolution (as DEC or RES), Commission (as REC or COM) and Suggestion. Such institutions are consolidated as legislation and are categorized as General Applicable Directive, General Directive and Product Specific Directive in terms of the claimant [2,3,4]. Adhering to the safety standard and approval for the CE mark for all machinery is the aim for the machinery industry. By approaching the institutions, this study attempts to understand problems found in the industry and produce generalizations for success, that combine practical experiences and a systematic and troubleshooting strategy. Some products have been required to satisfy the requirements of directives and to provide testimonials, since 1995. The European Union comprises fifteen European countries where each country has its distinct language, vocabulary, currency, laws and regulations. Inducing economic development in Europe has led to the decision of unification. To ensure the basic requirements of safety currency flow among the community, the European Union has legislated a CE mark directive, where all products should adhere to requirements as stated in the directive. In the CE mark directive, all machinery products produced by a mechanical manufacturer should satisfy a general directive, which includes a mechanical directive, a compatibility of electromagnetic directive and a low voltage directive. All products must satisfy the directives and be produced with safety design, manufacturing, as well as inclusion of clarifications and quality assurance data, before they can obtain a CE mark and sell in European countries [10]. Mechanical directive (98/37/EC) legislated the necessary health and safety norms for machinery and spare parts that entered into the community. The Compatibility of Electromagnetic Directive was legislated as Directive 89/336/EEC and later revised by Directive 92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC. They specified the electromagnetic interference to minimize the detraction of the product, equipment and system. Low Voltage Directive, 73/23/EEC, revised later by 93/68/EEC, restricted the use of 50V to 100V of alternative voltage and 75V to 100V of directive voltage to any machinery. All machinery products must pass the standards of Machinery Directive (89/392/EEC) to fulfill the requirements of the above general directive. If these machinery products included electronic control units, the product must adhere to the relative standards of the Compatibility of Electromagnetic Directive (89/336/EEC) and the Low Voltage Directive (73/23/EEC). …