New development of product quality assurance strategy for "illuminating Africa"

New technological advances, and to rapidly improve efficiency and light output, reduce power requirements, improve the design flexibility and low price, make modern off grid lighting areas become affordable, sustainable and reliable, hope for the current reliance on fuel based lighting African consumers.

Although the performance specifications and test procedures for the modern power grid connected to the lighting system products have been widely used, the appropriate quality of off line lighting products has not been fully developed. For example, in Europe, North America and Australia, light-emitting diode (LED) specifications and test procedures are still in the emerging stage of development. In addition, the existing minimum electrical safety, energy efficiency and performance standards are limited because they are not comprehensive system, usually in controlled laboratory conditions, did not fully reflect the actual situation, which can be used as the basis. Low quality assembly can also result in product defects and poor performance.

"Lighting Africa" product quality assurance program is designed to cause a potential threat of minimizing the product does not meet the consumer demand for Africa's buyer's market, so that they cannot fully evaluate the performance and selection of products suitable for their needs, so that modern lighting products suffer failures in africa.

In order to protect the consumer groups in Africa and to help the industry develop and spread a range of high demand products to the African market, the program is currently in the following areas of leadership and collaboration:

Quality testing / screening methods

To assist the industry to rapidly evaluate the performance and rapid selection / realization of high-quality off grid lighting products, "illuminating Africa" is working with industry to develop a set of standardized quality metrics and test methods. The performance of the method will support batch purchase of government organization agents, non government regulatory agencies, retail and residential applications, off grid lighting products for the rapid identification of quality products and / or the specified minimum performance level of other importers and buyers. The method of testing, once the final determination and verification of the industry, will provide the basis for the first round of product reviews (described below), the final will be possible to establish a quality mark / certification".

Product reviews

Choose different lighting needs the best products (such as task lighting, mobile flashlight / torch lighting, lighting, flood lighting environment), buyers need to easily obtain reliable information at all levels of the supply chain, including existing and upcoming off grid lighting products. In response to this demand, "illuminating Africa" is developing a plan to test the quality of multiple categories of products and distribute relevant quality information. Product samples randomly obtained in test method and purchasing, using a standard (discussed above) were evaluated, and then through the local media and other popular channels of information and activities to promote the quality of the products.

Technical support and testing services for innovative off grid lighting

Although some of the existing off grid lighting products are growing rapidly, some products provide high performance and affordability for low-income people in africa. At the same time, many of the small and innovative companies from the net lighting industry also told us that they often lack the necessary financial resources for the immediate development of high-quality products. In order to support the company design, and stimulate the market and enhance the overall quality of Africa from the net price of lighting products is reasonable, "lighting Africa" is to establish a program, the test will provide technical support service support for the production and sales company, similar to switch off grid lighting products.