The bottom line is essential for OEMs to stay in business, but manufacturing standards are just as crucial. Standards provide a common ground for best practices related to machine safety and functionality, and they illuminate a path to achieve uniformity across major markets.
That’s according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s “The Impact of Global and Local Standards on OEMs & Suppliers,” a white paper that discusses why standards are important to machinery builders, what core standards are relevant to packaging and processing, how to determine what standard(s) to follow, and what is currently happening with standards. The report also includes a list of links to standards, documents, and resources that PMMI offers to its members.
While standards establish common ground for best machine practices, some geographic variations exist, the Business Intelligence team notes. Therefore, it is helpful to contact a standards expert in the country where the machine will be installed.
Compliance with regulatory and normative standards means the machine adheres to current best practices, fulfills legal obligations, and reduces product liability exposure. If a liability issue arises, compliance provides a more defendable position because the plaintiff’s lawyers will check for declarations and certifications to see if standards were followed. Lack of compliance can lead to substantial fines, and in the worst cases, significant civil liability, and possibly imprisonment.
Furthermore, compliance with standards offers business benefits beyond product liability protection. It can boost return on investment by fostering a better understanding of tasks end users perform on or with the machine, prompt machinery improvements, increase confidence in engineering, lower costs, and reduce schedule- and budget-disrupting surprises during design, engineering, installation and startup, operations, and maintenance.
SOURCE: PMMI Business Intelligence: 2025 The Impact of Global and Local Standards on OEMs & Suppliers
For more insights from PMMI’s Business Intelligence team, find reports, including “2025 Performance Optimization: Insights for Packaging Line Readiness” and “2025 Aftermarket Parts & Services” at pmmi.org/business-intelligence.
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