I pride myself on keeping pretty up to date on RoHS. Any journalist who has been in the electronics trade for a while has been writing about the EU's Restriction on Hazardous Substances for more than a decade.
However, as with many directives that become laws, some changes have been made to RoHS. The consulting firm Design Chain Associates recently presented two Webinars on the topic. Here are some highlights from today's presentation:
It's not over.
When RoHS became a law, it included a phase-in period for products that were not covered in the original directive. Those products, which are outlined in what's called the RoHS Recast, will be phased in through 2021.
You can fall "out of scope."
Thanks to many of the clarifications in the recast, products that were subject to RoHS under the directive may not have to comply under the law. Don't assume that, once you are compliant, you are always compliant.
There is no such thing as a RoHS logo.
Many of the icons that designate a lead-free product were designed by the companies manufacturing the product. RoHS compliance has to be demonstrated through documentation.
CE does not equal RoHS.
Products that carry the "CE" seal may be RoHS-complaint, but they are not one and the same. Conversely, a RoHS-compliant product may or may not have to carry the CE seal. Either way, RoHS and CE apply to the finished product and do not have to be attached to individual components.
Your EMS is not your ticket to compliance.
RoHS compliance is the responsibility of the brand owner, not the contract manufacturer. Though your EMS may follow all the RoHS rules, the buck stops with the OEM.
These particular items were a surprise to me. A lot more information was covered by DCA. I recommend logging on to the Design Chain Associates Website, where you can request copies of the presentations.
You are right Nemos, RoHS adoption from major players started several years ago. It is trues, is a key factor within global supply chain world, but despite restrictions and rules from specifications, the matter is quite complex for the fact Internet could allow potentially the chance, through, for example several public e-market places, for buying something not compliant but low cost appealing.
“Any journalist who has been in the electronics trade for a while has been writing about the EU's Restriction on Hazardous Substances for more than a decade”
Barbara, I think in EBN and similar websites had covered the RoHS topics many times. But still it’s a hot topic with all of the OEM companies. Most of time I felt that, OEM companies are becomes victims rather than those who manufactured un compliance RoHS components. I mean the user becomes victims rather than the manufacturer.
This is another point to consider Jacob, I believe time spent for providing end-users in educational / self-learning sessions on risks in using goods not RoHS compliant wasn't so much, are you agreeing?
t.alex, it is correct, definitely; neverless, at the end, maybe only a small portion of endusers (or as you right said, "endconsumers") is aware of RoHS standard and its implication. Not to say that recommendation is unknown, but I don't think across the globe, that topic appears so friendly.
Readers--I am not sure consumers are as aware of RoHS as manufacturers--theoretically, consumers should benefit from the law anyway because almost everything is lead-free (at least). It remians an issue for manufacturers because products are being added to the scope of RoHS, which means developments on haz-substance free manufacturing will continue. Also, if there is a major enforcement event--which there hasn't been yet--there would be a lot of publicity. If a major infrastructure investment had to be dismantled--and there are provisions in RoHS for "industrial" electronics-RoHS will become more visible.
I agree Barbara, producers have to know in depth the standard and endconsumers (potentially) could receive benefits in case products, inside the market, are compliant to. Be aware of, at least, in terms of general issues, could help endusers in protection their safety. Sometimes people buy products on-line and are attracted by low costs and it happens quite often reasons to be cheaper then are exactly due to low production's quality and rules not respected.
Barbara, does the absense of logo means that RoHS compliance is not something that consumers can take as an indicator to help them while picking products? What could be the reason behind not having the logo?
Since the list of material covered under ROHS complaince will be evr changing the ROHS compliance has to have a date or some kind of version associated with it. So like new car emission norms are declared every now and then, new ROHS norms will come into force from time to time.
A product claiming ROHS complaince has to say which ROHS version.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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