This session will help start a meaningful discussion within the international product safety community about the practical implications of a world in which products can “learn” and change their behaviour, perhaps without direct active input from the original manufacturer. The session is intended to provide an introduction to the technologies, and to provide practical insight into the possibilities for the technology, the way it is already in place around us now, and the opportunities, risk, and policy challenges raised by these rapid developments for the management of consumer product safety.
Technological advances are speeding up; to be competitive, innovative products require compressed product development timelines that challenge current safety processes and tools. A panel of manufacturing and product safety experts will identify the challenges of compressing product development timelines and discuss the need for innovative solutions ensure products are designed and manufactured to be safe.
Chemical Management: A Strategic Approach to Chemical Safety in Product Life Cycle
This session aims to provide a holistic view on the importance of chemical safety in product life cycle as well as case studies of major chemical toxicity issues and their impact.
The synergy of national and international regulatory requirements and environmental responsibility provides the framework for sound chemical management, which is a crucial element to manage toxic chemicals in product life cycle. Reducing toxicity is at the core of green chemistry and sustainability, therefore the input of toxicologists early in the chemical design is essential to find safer alternatives to chemicals of concern.
This session looks at how product safety issues are addressed when dealing with 'innovative' products which set themselves apart from current products on the market. The panel will lead a discussion on the safety considerations that could be made from the product design/development stage to the product launch including how safety risks could be assessed by looking at different types of 'innovative' products. The session will also discuss the challenges and lessons that can be learned from the manufacturer's experience as well as those products which were launched but subsequently recalled.
Some consider written warnings as one of least effective methods of ensuring consumer product safety. New and emerging technologies are providing new ways to increase user awareness and understanding of how to use products safely. This panel will highlight innovative efforts being taken to effectively warn and inform end-users in consumer electronics and other industries and explore with attendees potential future innovations.
