In a competitive market place, customers are looking for more than just keen pricing from their print suppliers. Quality, reliability, customer service and services that add value for customers are of critical importance.
Print service providers need to be able to demonstrate that their businesses are managed efficiently and responsibly, that the services they provide are reliable and of high quality, and that they are committed to adding value for their customers.
A highly visible endorsement
The BSI Kitemark® scheme, developed in response to the needs of the print industry and its customers, provides a highly visible endorsement of a print service provider’s claim of conformity to PAS 75, the print industry’s benchmark of excellence.
PAS 75 is a service specification that includes a framework of performance measures that focus on service quality aspects identified as important to the customer. A distinction is drawn in the PAS between the service definition or specification and the provision and delivery of the print service.
The specification includes:
- Requirements for preliminary information
- Contractual documents
- Business planning and print production capacity
- Occupational health and safety
- Environmental management
- Information security
- Financial management
- Service enhancement
- Dispute resolution.
To fully comply with PAS 75, print production and services must be carried out within the framework of a quality approach to print services, as defined in Annex C of the PAS.
Implementation of a quality management system complying with BS EN ISO 9001 and made specific to the requirements contained in PAS 75 would be deemed to satisfy the requirements in Annex C.
Scope of the Kitemark® scheme
The scope of the Kitemark® scheme includes design and pre-press services, all forms of printing, binding, converting, finishing and inserting operations, packing, delivery, fulfillment and ancillary services.
To join the Kitemark® scheme a print service provider has first to demonstrate conformity with the scheme requirements through an initial assessment. Print service providers are required to demonstrate conformity to all aspects of PAS 75. The assessment includes an audit of the service offered, service delivery and the operating quality system.
A decision on entry to the scheme is then made by BSI. Thereafter, Kitemark® licensees are subject to continuing surveillance by BSI to ensure that they continue to conform to the scheme requirements.
PAS 75 is a copyright publication available in hardcopy only. For further information, please contact us via the button below.
For further details about the Kitemark® Scheme for Print Production and Services, please contact us on 01908 228190 or email us at certification.sales@bsi-global.com
