TY - RPRT A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in Mexico - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in Mexico. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-563645 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56364 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in the United Kingdom - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in the United Kingdom. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-565346 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56534 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in Colombia - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in Colombia. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. The study on Colombian CABs is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-558484 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-55848 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in Croatia - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in Croatia. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-565380 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56538 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in West Africa - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in West Africa. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-563631 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 45 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56363 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in New Zealand - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in New Zealand. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity Assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-564038 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56403 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Global status and trends in digital transformation and conformity assessment - An international comparison across 15 countries and regions - A QI-FoKuS study T1 - Weltweiter Status und Trends in der digitalen Transformation der Konformitätsbewertung - Ein internationaler Vergleich zwischen 15 Ländern und Regionen - Eine QI-FoKuS-Studie N2 - The ongoing digital transformation of the economy and the increasing complexity of networked products and applications are bringing digitalization into the focus of conformity assessment bodies (CABs). The demand for conformity assessment services is rising in tandem with innovations, new technologies, and processes. This poses new challenges for testing and calibration laboratories, inspection and certification bodies, and other CABs. Nevertheless, the emergence of advanced digital technologies and applications also opens up new opportunities for these organizations. This study is the first to comprehensively explore "Digitalization in Conformity Assessment" building on data from an online survey of CABs worldwide (14 countries and West Africa as a region with seven countries). N2 - Die fortschreitende digitale Transformation der Wirtschaft und die zunehmende Komplexität vernetzter Produkte und Anwendungen rücken die Digitalisierung in den Fokus von Konformitätsbewertungsstellen (KBS). Die Nachfrage nach Konformitätsbewertungsdienstleistungen im Einklang mit Innovationen, neuen Technologien und Prozessen steigt. Dies stellt Prüf- und Kalibrierlaboratorien, Inspektions- und Zertifizierungsstellen und andere KBS vor neue Herausforderungen. Der Fortschritt digitaler Technologien und Anwendungen eröffnet diesen Organisationen gleichzeitig neue Chancen. Diese Studie ist die erste, die das Thema der "Digitalisierung in der Konformitätsbewertung" umfassend erforscht. Sie stützt sich auf Daten aus einer Online-Umfrage unter KBS weltweit (14 Länder und Westafrika als Region mit sieben Ländern). KW - Testing KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Corona KW - Digitale Transformation KW - Digitalisierung KW - Kalibrierung KW - Konformitätsbewertung KW - Konformitätsbewertungsstelle KW - Labor KW - Prüfung KW - Qualitätsinfrastruktur KW - Zertifizierung PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-597659 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 53 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-59765 LA - mul AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Technology adoption and digital maturity in the conformity assessment industry: Empirical evidence from an international study N2 - Technological innovation and digitalization are transforming industries and organizations worldwide. Digital Maturity Models often serve as a reference point to monitor the digitalization progression through prescribed stages. Yet, little is still understood about (i) how a digital maturity model should be designed and deployed in a specific industry setting and (ii) the association between digital maturity and technology adoption. Building on extant literature and extensive interviews with industry experts, we first develop a digital maturity model in the context of the conformity assessment industry (a globally regulated industry responsible for assessing compliance of organizations with standards and regulations). Second, we implement the model and conduct a survey across 1447 organizations in 15 countries. Our findings reveal that the digital transformation journey of the industry progresses along five stages of maturity (with most organizations in the early/ intermediate stages of digital maturity) with distinctive patterns of technical and managerial practices across all stages. Adoption of technologies is (unsurprisingly) associated with higher digital maturity levels - albeit that association does not hold for complex technologies (such as Blockchain) and is impacted by country specifics (measured by the Digital Skills Gap Index). Our study provides insights into digital maturity and the adoption of technologies in an institutional environment that is highly regulated and conservative, in which high integrity of service provision is primary, and digitalization is a secondary focus of organizations. KW - Digital Maturity KW - Standardisation KW - Digital Maturity Scores KW - Technology Adoption KW - Digital Technologies PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-601930 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2024.102564 SN - 0160-791X VL - 77 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-60193 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in Africa N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in Africa. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2023. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - Testing KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - TIC KW - Quality infrastructure PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-588625 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 45 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-58862 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - RPRT A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment in North Macedonia - A QI-FoKuS study N2 - This report summarizes findings from the first comprehensive study on digitalization in conformity assessment in North Macedonia. The reults are based on data from a survey among conformity assessment bodies (CABs) conducted in 2022. It highlights the digital maturity of the organizations, the motives, benefits and obstacles of digital transformation as well as the actual technology trends. This study is part of a global project that covers various other countries (see www.qi-fokus.de). KW - COVID-19 KW - Calibration KW - Certification KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Laboratory KW - Quality infrastructure KW - TIC KW - Testing PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-565986 UR - https://www.qi-fokus.de SP - 1 EP - 44 PB - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-56598 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Koch, Claudia A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Asna Ashari, Parsa A1 - Blind, K. A1 - Castka, P. ED - Jakobs, K. ED - Kim, D.-h. T1 - Digital maturity in the conformity assessment industry: An explorative study from Germany N2 - The services of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) are essential to provide for trust in and safety of digital products and services by demonstrating that requirements from standards are met. Thus, it is vital that CABs are ready to fulfil their tasks also in the digital transformation, having the necessary capabilities and resources. Our study is the first to comprehensively assess the digital maturity in the CA industry and to provide some insights into the readiness of the industry to support and at the same time benefit from the digital age. To this end, we developed and implemented a digital maturity model tailored to the CA industry. In this paper, we present first results from our survey among 354 accredited CABs in Germany. With our research we contribute to better understand the digital transformation and maturation of CABs along distinctive stages. The findings suggest that the transformation process in the CA industry is just at the beginning, with the majority of CABs still in early stages of digital maturity. Also, only a few of them already exploit the latest digital technologies and applications like artificial intelligence, blockchain or big data analytics. Nevertheless, CABs regard digitalization as a big opportunity – for themselves and their industry. T2 - 26th EURAS Annual Standardisation Conference – Standards for Digital Transformation: Blockchain and Innovation CY - Glasgow, Great Britain DA - 08.06.2022 KW - Digital maturity KW - Digital transformation KW - Digitalization KW - Quality infrastructure KW - Conformity assessment KW - Conformity assessment body KW - Testing KW - Certification KW - Inspection KW - Laboratory PY - 2022 SN - 978-3-95886-446-7 SP - 253 EP - 272 PB - Verlag Mainz CY - Mainz AN - OPUS4-55065 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Ladu, Luana T1 - Digitalization in conformity assessment- an explorative study from Germany N2 - First insights from a survey conducted among German Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) to explore their status of digital transformation, incl. their digital maturity, benefits and obstacles as well as actual technology trends. T2 - EU – SPRI 2022 CY - Utrecht, Netherlands DA - 02.06.2022 KW - Digitaler Reifegrad KW - Digitalisierung KW - Konformitätsbewertung KW - Prüflaboratorien KW - Qualitätsinfrastruktur KW - Zertifizierungsstellen PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55519 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Ladu, Luana T1 - Exploring the digital transformative potential of the conformity assessment industry - An international comparison N2 - First insights from a survey conducted among Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) accross 15 countries. It aims at exploring their status of digital transformation, incl. their digital maturity, benefits and obstacles as well as actual technology trends. T2 - EU - SPRI 2023 CY - Brighton, UK DA - 15.06.2023 KW - Digitaler Reifegrad KW - Digitalisierung KW - Zertifizierungsstellen KW - Konformitätsbewertung KW - Prüflaboratorien KW - Qualitätsinfrastruktur PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57780 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ladu, Luana A1 - Matovic, Nikola A1 - Imbert, Enrica A1 - Encino-Munoz, Ana T1 - How to measure the robustness and effectiveness of certification schemes and labels in ensuring the sustainability of bio-based products N2 - The rapid proliferation of sustainability certification schemes and labels (CSLs) reflects the rising demand for sustainable products, although the robustness and effectiveness of these certification systems have been increasingly questioned. While CSLs aim to mitigate environmental and socio-economic risks and support responsible market practices, current monitoring systems of CSLs often lack coherence, transparency, and methodological robustness. This study addresses this gap by proposing a conceptual monitoring framework specifically tailored to the bioeconomy, addressing the complexity of global bio-based value chains. Developed through a systematic literature review, a comparative analysis of 26 academic studies and 19 monitoring tools, and stakeholder engagement via interviews and co-creation workshops, the framework introduces a multidimensional structure for evaluating CSLs across three core functions: (I) Building Trust and Transparency, (II) Protecting Sustainability Areas of Concern, and (III) Driving Continuous Improvement. A pilot benchmarking exercise using the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) demonstrates the framework’s applicability and diagnostic value, revealing both strong alignment in some areas and performance gaps in others—particularly in the economic and circularity dimensions. The framework is designed as a dynamic and modular tool, suitable for use by policymakers, scheme owners, businesses, and consumers. It holds potential to harmonize evaluation practices, guide co-regulatory policy integration, and foster more transparent and credible sustainability certification systems in the bioeconomy meta-sector. KW - Monitoring System KW - Sustainability Certification Schemes KW - Labels KW - Standards KW - Bioeconomy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-640000 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126240 SN - 1095-8630 VL - 390 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-64000 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -