When processing type approval certification, it is important to pay attention to the lead time. Lead time is the length of required time to finish an approval process. By knowing the accurate lead time, manufacturer can make an estimate of when the product can be shipped into the market. Therefore, understanding lead time is important to create product forecast, from manufacturing process to the actual sales activity.
The length of lead time depends on the type of approval certification process applied. For approval that allows paperwork, typically the lead time is shorter compared to the approval process that obligates local test. Regarding Columbia Type Approval, certification is processed through paperwork approach. It doesn’t obligate local testing. But basically, the process is only reviewing existing test reports according to CE or FCC standard. Therefore, it can be finished within 3-4 weeks from the application submission.
Validity is the time period when the certificate becomes valid or acceptable by Law. The information regarding validity is very important for the manufacturer or distributor, especially to keep the certificate valid during sales period. Because if they want to keep selling the product in very long time, the certificate must be maintained valid within the sales period. Otherwise, the product is not legal to sell and too risky of being recalled.
For the case of Colombia Type Approval, manufacturer/distributor can be a little bit relax. That’s because the validity of the certificate is permanent. This means that after the certificate is issued, it will be valid forever unless the product is modified. So, once certificate is issued, you can sell or use the product in Columbia for unlimited time period.
Why We Care
Understanding the lead time is important for manufacturer especially to create accurate forecast. This will help the manufacturer to estimate when the product can arrive to the market. While about the validity, it is also important to know because we need to manage the certificate to be valid during product marketing period. That’s why when we do type approval certification process, we keep the lead time to be consistent as informed in the front. Therefore, you as the manufacturer can create accurate lead time and estimate of when the product arrival to the market.