Annual Report 2012 - Afnor
Annual Report 2012 - Afnor
Annual Report 2012 - Afnor
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
annual<br />
report<br />
<strong>2012</strong><br />
association<br />
www.afnor.org
Contents<br />
Editorial<br />
Chairman: Claude Satinet<br />
p. 01 Editorial<br />
p. 02 AFNOR - providing confidence since 1926<br />
p. 03 AFNOR - the essentials<br />
p. 04 STANDARDS as a driving force for<br />
competitive advantage, innovation and<br />
simplification policies<br />
p. 05 Standardisation stakeholders<br />
p .07 Association governing bodies<br />
p. 12 / Significant events in <strong>2012</strong><br />
p. 15 AFNOR Standardisation<br />
p. 16 / Significant events in <strong>2012</strong><br />
p. 24 Institutional affairs and<br />
international cooperation<br />
p. 25 Member network<br />
p. 26 Standardisation costs and resources<br />
p. 27 AFNOR Publishing<br />
p. 29 Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
p. 29 / AFNOR Certification<br />
p. 33 / AFNOR Competencies<br />
p. 35 / AFNOR International<br />
p. 37 Life of the association<br />
p. 42 Executive committee<br />
p. 44 Income statements<br />
p. 45 Responsible and sustainable<br />
Despite the strong changes sweeping across today's economy and<br />
society, the AFNOR Group once again proved its ability this<br />
year to stand firm and sense the trends heading its way,<br />
such as the fall in subsidies for carrying out its general interest mission,<br />
frozen investments in many companies and a profound shake-up of the<br />
economic sectors, as well as new European and international fields where French<br />
interests need to be defended… AFNOR’s ability to anticipate future events enabled<br />
the Group to post a balanced set of results in <strong>2012</strong> regardless of all these factors,<br />
and I would like to congratulate all employees again for their involvement and their<br />
sense of teamwork.<br />
The AFNOR Group also owes its resilience to its ability to break new<br />
ground. But in order to innovate, all the parties involved in a project – employees,<br />
suppliers, customers, and so on… – must share the same language to ensure that<br />
their work is compatible. This is where standardisation enters the scene - it provides<br />
stakeholders with a venue and platform for communicating which, by consensus,<br />
ultimately leads to shared best practices and standard rules. Standardisation and<br />
innovation are terms that go hand-in-hand - countless examples prove how their<br />
synergistic effects can help economic players accelerate the emergence of innovative<br />
products and services, and ensure a positive response from the market.<br />
This is the frame of mind that drove the AFNOR Group to launch a number of new<br />
products and services during <strong>2012</strong> tailored to the needs voiced by organisations<br />
and designed to improve their competitive advantage. AFNOR is the world's first<br />
standardisation body to offer HTML access to standards, thereby allowing<br />
for faster consultation and superior flexibility. The AFNOR Group masterminded an<br />
innovative "quality" pack with small businesses in mind - the "AFAQ 9001 stepby-step<br />
pack", which includes certification, training and self-assessment. AFNOR<br />
Standardisation developed a service offering to complement its long-standing<br />
activities - normative feasibility studies, regional platforms, trials with new standards…<br />
<strong>2012</strong> also saw the creation of AFNOR Energies, a coherent set of services<br />
aimed at tackling energy efficiency, and AFNOR Purchasing Solutions,<br />
featuring a one-stop shop of solutions and services for the community of buyers.<br />
AFNOR Competencies successfully launched a number of diploma-based<br />
courses in partnership with the Conference of Higher Education Establishments,<br />
thereby enabling professionals to obtain recognition for their expertise. This list is by no<br />
means exhaustive and clearly reflects the determination of the AFNOR Group's men<br />
and women to transform risks into opportunities as part of their concern to meet and<br />
even pre-empt the needs of France's economic players. This ambition of serving the<br />
general interest is widely promoted in the various reports submitted to the government<br />
on France's competitiveness. The reports' authors drive home the importance of<br />
voluntary standardisation - a method for fostering "social dialogue" spearheaded by<br />
AFNOR since 1926 - and encourage political authorities and organisations to throw<br />
their weight behind the initiative. "Winning the standards battle is key to winning the<br />
economic battle," recently said France's Minister of Foreign Trade, Nicole Bricq, upon<br />
receiving the Revel report. I could not agree more with her words, especially since<br />
the AFNOR Group operates in an international playing field. In terms of standards,<br />
AFNOR continues to lend on-the-ground support to the people representing French<br />
organisations in international committees, where 90% of the standards produced<br />
will soon apply in our country. With over 700 participations in the different technical<br />
committees, France tops the list, which is reassuring for the future of our companies.<br />
But the value of voluntary standards has not been lost on Germany, which is well<br />
ahead in this particular area.<br />
In terms of business performance, AFNOR International registered growth<br />
in excess of 20% between 2011 and <strong>2012</strong>! Such growth shows the<br />
importance of our "home-grown" expertise!<br />
2013 is inevitably a hopeful year, because I am intimately convinced that<br />
the AFNOR Group and the organisations in its ecosystem have all the resources –<br />
which they have already proven – to move forward, innovate and reinvent themselves.<br />
I can only reiterate the pride that comes from chairing a Group that champions such<br />
strong values!<br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
1
AFNOR - providing confidence since 1926<br />
AFNOR - the essentials<br />
The AFNOR Association and its subsidiaries form an<br />
international group, which works to serve the general<br />
interest and foster economic development. The Group<br />
designs and deploys solutions based on voluntary standards<br />
that are the architects of trust and progress. In pursuing<br />
its mission, AFNOR draws strength from four values:<br />
team work, responsibility, trust and quality.<br />
AFNOR is vested with a general-interest mission, as defined<br />
by the French Standardisation Regulation of 16 June 2009,<br />
to determine voluntary standardisation requirements<br />
and mobilise interested parties, promote French<br />
positions on a European and international level, organise<br />
a public consultation process for each draft French,<br />
European or international standard, and ratify the final<br />
version. This mission includes the publication and<br />
sale of standards (professional solutions offering<br />
strategic intelligence and access to normative documents),<br />
institutional affairs and international cooperation,<br />
and leadership of members.<br />
The association features subsidiaries delivering certification,<br />
training and international networking services, which help<br />
to further the very purpose of the association directly<br />
through their activities and indirectly by contributing to the<br />
association's results.<br />
What is a voluntary standard?<br />
A standard is a reference document published<br />
by AFNOR and produced in an iterative and<br />
collaborative manner with active support from a<br />
representative panel of professionals (manufacturers,<br />
consumers, associations, trade unions,<br />
local authorities, and so on). A standard contains<br />
a set of principles and requirements for a given<br />
activity or its results. Standards are created in<br />
response to the need of players in a given market or<br />
sector of activity and following examination by AFNOR.<br />
Standards are defined by consensus between all<br />
stakeholders concerned.<br />
In all but exceptional cases, standards are not<br />
compulsory. Voluntary standards are sometimes<br />
mistaken for regulatory standards (otherwise known<br />
as legal standards).<br />
Registered not-for-profit organisation<br />
Standardisation<br />
Standards-based professional and technical documentation and information services<br />
Institutional affairs and international cooperation<br />
Standards and normative documents in <strong>2012</strong><br />
Collection: 33,141 where 1% became legally mandatory<br />
<strong>2012</strong> publications: 1,942 90% of which are of international origin<br />
60% of published standards are revisions<br />
Withdrawn in <strong>2012</strong>:...........................1,543<br />
Public enquiries:................................2,211<br />
Standardisation committees in <strong>2012</strong><br />
1,017 (60% headed up by sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs)<br />
and 40% overseen by AFNOR)<br />
21 new standardisation committees (70% headed up by AFNOR,<br />
30% overseen by SSBs)<br />
2,438 new topics<br />
Professionals involved in the standardisation process<br />
20,000 experts<br />
214 experts trained in <strong>2012</strong><br />
2,082 members<br />
Norm’Info<br />
Chief Executive Officer: Olivier Peyrat<br />
Over 30,000 telephone enquiries a year<br />
International<br />
France:<br />
No. 3 contributor within ISO (International Organization for Standardization,<br />
with over 163 member countries)<br />
No. 2 contributor within CEN (European Committee for Standardisation,<br />
with 33 member countries)<br />
21 new responsibilities for France within CEN and ISO<br />
96 international meetings organised in France<br />
2 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 3
STANDARDS as a driving force for competitive<br />
advantage, innovation and simplification policies<br />
Standardisation stakeholders<br />
Standardisation became the focus of unprecedented attention in <strong>2012</strong> with<br />
the term "standard" widely used in the media, with a constant confusion<br />
between regulatory standardisation (treaties, acts, regulations, orders,<br />
directives, etc.) and voluntary standardisation (ISO, EN, NF and other<br />
standards). Taking great pride in the stakeholder consensus model that it<br />
has championed since 1926, AFNOR spearheaded a wide-ranging campaign to raise<br />
awareness among the media, policy-makers and professionals. The campaign<br />
has already started changing attitudes, with a number of political<br />
leaders clarifying the difference in their reports and focusing on the<br />
virtues of the voluntary standards under AFNOR's responsibility.<br />
The report entitled "Blueprint for a competitive French industry" submitted to<br />
the French government in November <strong>2012</strong> by Mr Louis Gallois focused on "the<br />
positive role that standards play in supporting exports from French<br />
companies". The authors actually insist on the importance of France playing an<br />
even more prominent role in European and international standardisation bodies,<br />
namely CEN, CENELEC, IEC and ISO.<br />
The fact-finding mission on French production costs chaired by Mr Bernard Accoyer<br />
led several enquiries in <strong>2012</strong>. In its report submitted in March 2013, the mission<br />
emphasises the importance of the "challenges involved in defining and controlling<br />
voluntary standards [which] represent some of the most important opportunities<br />
for superior productivity and efficiency for a country such as France". In particular,<br />
it stresses that voluntary standards are often instrumental in breaking<br />
new ground on an industrial scale.<br />
In September <strong>2012</strong>, Mrs Nicole Bricq appointed Mrs Claude Revel to head up a thinktank<br />
on strategies for developing France's international presence and position in the<br />
general standards scene. Voluntary standardisation is once again in the spotlight,<br />
and the first priority is to engage French companies with the international standardisation<br />
bodies. "Strengthening our presence in the standardisation sector is<br />
an absolute must. Winning the standards battle is key to winning<br />
the economic battle," said France's Minister of Foreign Trade upon receiving the<br />
report on 31 January 2013.<br />
In a bid to streamline the regulatory standards that govern how local authorities<br />
operate, CIMAP (Interdepartmental Committee for the Modernisation of Public<br />
Policy) asked Messrs Alain Lambert and Jean-Claude Boulard to take an in-depth<br />
look at the tools and methods available for responding to this challenge. In their<br />
recommendations, the authors argue that an effective approach would be to draw<br />
inspiration from the way in which the professional world implements a standardsgoverned<br />
activity without raising any major difficulties. "The reason is simple,"<br />
they explain. "AFNOR standards begin life as a simple recommendation. They<br />
also advise the people responsible for drafting regulatory standards to consistently<br />
prioritise non-mandatory standards, except in cases where it can be proven that an<br />
obligation would actually guarantee better results." CIMAP immediately responded<br />
with its proposal of "conditioning small and medium-sized enterprises<br />
and industries to instinctively think of AFNOR by showing them<br />
how they can save time and improve security by increasing their<br />
knowledge of existing standards and making them understand the<br />
importance of taking their products down the standardisation road<br />
as early as possible.".<br />
The educational work that AFNOR has long been pioneering<br />
to illustrate the virtues of voluntary standardisation led to<br />
a series of strong decisions taken in the highest offices of<br />
government in favour of promoting the use of this tool for<br />
social dialogue. Political support is essential for driving home<br />
the importance of voluntary standardisation and allowing it to<br />
play a role in the development of our economy.<br />
AFNOR organises the French standardisation system with sector-based standardisation bureaus<br />
approved by the Minister of Industry and coordinates their activities.<br />
Standards are authored by sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs) acting on AFNOR's authority<br />
or directly by AFNOR where the subject area covers a large number of sectors or relates to a sector<br />
for which there is no approved sector-based standardisation bureau.<br />
As such, five departments in particular within AFNOR Standardisation<br />
are responsible for drafting standards in the following sectors:<br />
Food & drink, health and social welfare<br />
Construction and water cycle<br />
Industrial engineering and environment<br />
Services, management and consumer goods<br />
Transport, energy and communication<br />
Governance of the French<br />
standardisation system is defined by<br />
Regulation 2009-697 of 16 June 2009.<br />
4 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 5
Standardisation stakeholders<br />
AFNOR<br />
As the central oversight body for standardisation in France, AFNOR determines all<br />
standardisation needs and empowers interested parties. It promotes French positions<br />
on a European and international level. It organises public consultation processes in<br />
French for each draft French, European or international standard, ratifies the final<br />
version and incorporates the approved standard into the national catalogue.<br />
Drawing strength from the expertise and experience that it has acquired from<br />
its insight into the European and international standardisation mechanisms,<br />
AFNOR also provides bespoke services for assessing the feasibility of<br />
standardisation projects and their subsequent implementation. AFNOR runs a<br />
series of topical fora across the country to reflect developments in the standards<br />
sector and provides assistance with preparing standards.<br />
Sector-based standardisation bureaus as at<br />
31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
BNA Bureau of Automotive Standardisation<br />
BNAAH Standardisation Bureau for hyperbaric and underwater activities<br />
BN Acier Standardisation Bureau for the French Steel Industry<br />
BNAE Standardisation Bureau for Aerospace and Defence<br />
BN Ferti Standardisation bureau for the fertiliser industry<br />
BNBA Standardisation Bureau for wood and furniture<br />
BNCM Standardisation Bureau for structural steelwork<br />
BNC Standardisation Bureau for ceramics<br />
BNEN Standardisation Bureau for nuclear facilities<br />
BNF Standardisation Bureau for the railway engineering<br />
BNG Standardisation Bureau for the gas industry<br />
BNHBJO Standardisation Bureau for timepieces, jewellery, the jewellery trade<br />
and gold and silversmiths<br />
BNIB Standardisation Bureau for the concrete industry<br />
BNIF Standardisation Bureau for the smelting industries<br />
BNITH Standardisation Bureau for the textiles and clothing industry<br />
BNLH Standardisation Bureau for hydraulic binders<br />
BN Pétrole Standardisation Bureau for the oil industry<br />
BNPP Standardisation Bureau for plastics and plastics technology<br />
BNTEC Standardisation Bureau for building and construction techniques and equipment<br />
BNTRA Standardisation Bureau for transport, highways and planning<br />
CFONB French committee for banking organisation and standardisation<br />
UNM Standardisation Bureau for the mechanical engineering and rubber industry<br />
UTE Standardisation Bureau for eletrotechnical field<br />
Sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs)<br />
Sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs) head up the standardisation<br />
committees for each professional sector concerned. They prepare the draft<br />
French standards that AFNOR submits for public enquiry, including France's<br />
contributions and positions in European and international bodies. Some SSBs are<br />
also empowered by AFNOR to lead technical committees in those very bodies.<br />
Stakeholder representatives: standardisation experts<br />
With backgrounds covering every area of the economy and society,<br />
stakeholder representatives (businesses, trade organisations, local government,<br />
local authorities, consumer associations, environmental protection associations,<br />
and so on) form the very backbone of the French standardisation system.<br />
They provide the skills and expertise that ensure a high-quality standard for each<br />
subject area. They deliver the technical content required for drafting and updating<br />
documents. They play a strong role in promoting new subjects and documents<br />
by voicing the needs of their respective sectors. They constitute the French<br />
delegations and thereby take part in work at the European and international level.<br />
Public authorities<br />
Depending on the circumstances, public authorities are involved in the<br />
standardisation committees and serve as either a regulatory authority or a technical<br />
body acting to promote public policies. Public authorities can use voluntary<br />
standardisation as a means of lobbying market players to offer the best operational<br />
solutions in response to public demand.<br />
An Interdepartmental Standards Representative, acting under the authority of the<br />
Minister for Industry, chairs an interdepartmental standards group (GIN) attended<br />
by ministerial standards managers. The GIN provides the Minister for Industry<br />
with guidance on French standards policy. In particular, the group ensures that all<br />
projects under development are consistent with legislative objectives.<br />
Association governing bodies<br />
Board of Directors<br />
AFNOR, a registered not-for-profit association, is administered<br />
by a Board of Directors with no more than 30 members,<br />
who are appointed in such a way that the different interested<br />
parties are widely and fairly represented:<br />
Direct or indirect company representatives (including<br />
SMEs and craft industries) and representatives from various<br />
sectors of the economy.<br />
Representatives from consumer associations,<br />
trade unions, local authorities and, since 2011,<br />
approved non-governmental organisations.<br />
Ministry representatives.<br />
Representatives elected from AFNOR's employees.<br />
The Interdepartmental Standards<br />
Representative takes part in Board meetings<br />
and acts as a government commissioner.<br />
The Chairman called four Board meetings<br />
in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
6 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
7
Association governing bodies<br />
Association governing bodies<br />
Members of the AFNOR Board of Directors as at 31/12/<strong>2012</strong><br />
Board committees acting under delegated authority<br />
Chairman......................................................................................Claude Satinet<br />
Honorary Chairman..................................................................François Ailleret<br />
Honorary Chairman.....................................................................Philippe Boulin<br />
Honorary Chairman........................................................................ Henri Martre<br />
Vice-Chairman..............................................................Henry Halna du Fretay<br />
Vice-Chairman................................................................Dominique Hoestlandt<br />
Treasurer................................................................................Jacques Schramm<br />
Companies<br />
A2 Consulting.........................................................................Jacques Schramm<br />
AIMCC (Association of Construction Materials, Products,<br />
Components and Equipment Industries).........................................Marc Lebrun*<br />
Air Liquide.............................................................................Hervé Barthelemy<br />
ANIA (National Association of Food Industries)..................................Joseph Nicot<br />
CMA INDRE ET LOIRE (Chamber of Trades and<br />
Craft Industries)..............................................................................Gérard Bobier<br />
CAPEB (Confederation of Building Trades and<br />
Small Companies)........................................................Henry Halna du Fretay<br />
CCFA (Committee of French Car Manufacturers)....................... Nicolas Le Bigot<br />
CSTB (Building Science and Technology Centre)...........................Carole Le Gall*<br />
France Telecom............................................................................ Philippe Lucas<br />
FIEEC (Federation of Electrical and Electronic Industries).............. Claude Breining<br />
GDF SUEZ..................................................................................Jacques Dubost<br />
GIFAS (Association of French Aerospace Industries)........... Catherine Giudicelli<br />
INERIS (National Institute of the Industrial Environment<br />
and Risks)............................................................................... Vincent Lafleche*<br />
SNELAC (National Association for Leisure, Theme and<br />
Cultural Areas )......................................................................... Sophie Huberson<br />
TOTAL........................................................................................... Denis Deutsch<br />
UIC (Union of Chemical Industries)...........................................Philippe Prudhon<br />
*Appointed during the General Meeting in June <strong>2012</strong><br />
Consumers appointed by France's National Consumer Council<br />
LEO LAGRANGE CONSUMER PROTECTION<br />
ASSOCIATION................................................................Ludivine Coly-Dufourt<br />
AFOC (Consumer Workers' Force Association)........................ Etienne Defrance<br />
INDECOSA CGT (Employed Consumer Information and<br />
Protection Association - CGT).....................................................Arnaud Faucon<br />
Trade unions<br />
CFE – CGC.......................................................................... Dominique Le Page<br />
Local authorities ................................................................................. vacant<br />
Approved non-governmental organisations<br />
Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind...................... Thierry Libaert<br />
Ministries<br />
Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing........... Viviane Apied<br />
Economy, Finance and Industry................................................Stanislas Martin<br />
Work, Employment and Continuing<br />
Professional Development................................ Valérie Delahaye-Guillocheau<br />
Defence......................................................................................... Jacques Levet<br />
AFNOR employees<br />
............................................................................................ Pascale Mienville<br />
................................................................................................... Vincent Coton<br />
Ex-officio Board members<br />
Interdepartmental Standards Representative...................... Jean-Marc Le Parco<br />
Comptroller General..................................................................... Albert Peirano<br />
Chairman of the Audit and Evaluation Committee................ François Falconnet<br />
Standardisation Coordination and Steering<br />
Committee (CCPN)<br />
as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
The CCPN was set up in September 2010 and is responsible for preparing the<br />
French standardisation strategy, defining the objectives and general priorities for<br />
the strategic committees and ensuring compliance with national, European and<br />
international policies. The CCPN prepares France's positions in European and<br />
international standardisation bodies.<br />
Companies<br />
Laurent Bernard, SAS Valpinov proposed by CGPME<br />
Claude Breining, Schneider Electric proposed by Medef, Chairman of the CCPN<br />
Jean Félix, SYNTEC<br />
Henry Halna du Fretay, CAPEB (Confederation of Building Trades and<br />
Small Companies), proposed by the Professional Union of Tradespersons (UPA),<br />
Deputy Chairman of the CCPN<br />
Consumers<br />
Jamy Belkiri, Familles de France<br />
Ludivine Coly-Dufourt, Léo Lagrange Consumer Protection Association<br />
Trade unions<br />
Dr Michel Akakpo, CFE-CGC<br />
Approved NGOs<br />
André-Jean Guérin, Nicolas Hulot Foundation for Nature and Mankind<br />
Local authorities<br />
Bernard Bezard, Chief Executive of Combs-la-Ville Council<br />
Bernard Decaux, Mayor of Brétigny-sur-Orge<br />
Ministries<br />
Viviane Apied, Sustainable Development Commission at the Ministry of<br />
Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy<br />
Gérard Mathieu, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries<br />
Standardisation operators<br />
Gilles Bernardeau, Standardisation bureau for the concrete industry (BNIB)<br />
Gilles Chopard-Guillaumot, Standardisation bureau for the railway industry (BNF)<br />
Philippe Contet, Standardisation union for the mechanical engineering<br />
industry (UNM)<br />
Isabelle Heller, Union for the Electrotechnical Industry (UTE)<br />
Thierry Crignou, AFNOR Standardisation<br />
All strategic committee chairmen<br />
see page 11<br />
Claude Breining, Chairman of the CCPN<br />
Appointed for a three-year term in December 2011, Claude Breining took over<br />
from Dominique Olivier as Chairman of the Standardisation Coordination and<br />
Steering Committee (CCPN).<br />
As Senior Vice-President of European Affairs and Influence Strategies at<br />
Schneider Electric since 2009, he is actively involved in French and European<br />
standardisation activities. "Standardisation is an essential tool, especially when<br />
rolling out a strategy in any company or organisation. It enables the company<br />
or organisation to move forward using the same set of rules while generating<br />
growth, which means jobs. It acts as a driving force for innovation in companies<br />
and defines the rules of the game allowing the most innovative and competitive<br />
companies to grow." Claude Breining is Vice-President of Finance at CENELEC<br />
(European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation) and an AFNOR Board<br />
member. From February <strong>2012</strong> to February 2013, the CCPN was supported in its<br />
missions by the Chairman’s deputy, Mr Henry Halna du Fretay.<br />
8 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 9
Association governing bodies<br />
Association governing bodies<br />
Audit and Evaluation Committee (CAE)<br />
The Audit and Evaluation Committee is responsible for organising the evaluation<br />
of the sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs) in anticipation of obtaining<br />
accreditation from the Minister of Industry, which is valid for a maximum duration<br />
of three years. Evaluations are carried out in accordance with the NF X50-088<br />
standard published in 2009, which provides guidelines for the activities of<br />
standardisation bureaus. The CAE also checks the conformity and effectiveness<br />
of the activity aimed at guiding and coordinating AFNOR's standardisation work,<br />
as well as AFNOR's standardisation bureau activities. This mission of the CAE is<br />
performed according to the provisions of Regulation 2009-697 of 16 June 2009.<br />
Members as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Chairman appointed for five years in 2010: François Falconnet<br />
Chairman of ISO/TC 34 (Food products) – former Chairman of the COFRAC Audit<br />
Committee (French Accreditation Committee)<br />
Patrick Schwartzmann<br />
Pierre Loisier<br />
Alain Soury-Lavergne<br />
Philippe Berthon<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, the Audit and Evaluation Committee continued<br />
is mission of carrying out assessment audits on<br />
the sector-based standardisation bureaus (SSBs)<br />
by conducting nine initial audits for accreditation.<br />
Following the audits in 2011, five additional audits<br />
and two follow-up document audits were required to<br />
maintain accreditation.<br />
Board committees with an<br />
advisory role as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Finance Committee<br />
16 members, chaired by AFNOR's Chairman, Claude Satinet<br />
Ethics Committee<br />
Chaired by an administrator, Dominique Hoestlandt, and featuring<br />
five to seven members appointed by the Board. The committee is open<br />
to non-Board members.<br />
Consumers Committee<br />
16 members, chaired by Arnaud Faucon, INDECOSA/CGT,<br />
administrator representing consumers and appointed by the Board.<br />
Consultation Committees<br />
9 to 16 members appointed by the Board.<br />
Two committees currently exist:<br />
Craft Industries, chaired by Gérard Bobier, President of the Indre et Loire<br />
Chamber of Trades and Craft Industries and Deputy Secretary of the APCMA<br />
Bureau (Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Trades and Craft Industries).<br />
Local authorities, chaired by Jean Auroux, former minister,<br />
Honorary Chairman of the FDV (Federation of Mid-Sized Cities).<br />
CCPN Committees<br />
Strategic Committees<br />
These committees provide collective management of AFNOR's standardisation<br />
activities and bring together the main decision-makers from a given sector of the<br />
economy. Each committee comprises a chair elected for a renewable three-year<br />
term, members offering a balanced representation of the major stakeholders in the<br />
area under consideration, and operators from the French standardisation system<br />
(AFNOR and sector-based standardisation bureaus).<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, the CCPN confirmed that the standardisation system would be organised<br />
around three types of body: standardisation committees, strategic committees and<br />
the CCPN. To ensure consistent practices across each type of body, the strategic<br />
committees and standardisation committees have been given complete flexibility in<br />
coordinating their activities. Coordination groups may therefore be set up at every<br />
level. Since coordination groups are required to play a cross-functional and advisory<br />
role, they are not involved in the decision-making process of the CCPN / strategic<br />
committees / standardisation committees.<br />
Strategic committees and their chairman and vice-chairman<br />
as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Food products: Jean-Louis Porry, Chairman, Ministry of Agriculture,<br />
Gérard Boivin, Vice-Chairman, ANIA (National Association of Food Industries)<br />
Sport, leisure and consumer goods: Catherine Trachtenberg,<br />
Chairwoman, FIFAS (Federation of French Sports Product Industries)<br />
Construction and town planning: François Pelegrin, Chairman,<br />
UNSFA (National Association of French Architect Unions)<br />
Electrotechnologies: Patrick Bernard, Chairman, Schneider Electric,<br />
Jean-Yves Goblot, Vice-Chairman, Acome<br />
Environment and social responsibility: Vincent Laflèche, Chairman,<br />
INERIS (National Institute of the Industrial Environment and Risks),<br />
Bruno Costes, Vice-Chairman, EADS<br />
Gas: Dominique Kaczmarek, Chairman, GDF SUEZ<br />
Major water cycle: Christophe Bonnin, Chairman, Veolia Eau<br />
Digital communication and information: Philippe Courqueux, Chairman, CORA<br />
Industrial engineering, capital goods and materials: Philippe Canteau,<br />
Chairman, SNECMA<br />
Management and services: Xavier Querat-Hement, Chairman, La Poste Group<br />
Oil: Francis d'Auriac, Chairman, TOTAL Oil Refining<br />
Health and social welfare: Björn Fahlgren, Chairman, Assistance Publique -<br />
Hôpitaux de Paris<br />
Occupational health and safety: Valérie Delahaye-Guillocheau, Chairwoman,<br />
Ministry of Employment – DGT<br />
Transport and logistics: Jean-Bernard Kovarik, Chairman, Ministry of Ecology,<br />
Sustainable Development, Transport and Housing<br />
Rational energy use: Jean-Jacques Marchais, Chairman, Schneider Electric,<br />
Romain Cailleton, Chairman, Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development,<br />
Transport and Housing<br />
10 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 11
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Governance<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Governance<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Governance<br />
Standardisation committees assigned to<br />
strategic committees<br />
After standardising how the strategic committees function and defining their<br />
new scope of activities in 2011, the work involved in assigning each of the<br />
1,000 standardisation committees to a primary strategic committee for<br />
oversight purposes was completed in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Reassignment of BNTB standardisation committees<br />
In June 2011, the CSTB (Building Science and Technology Centre) announced<br />
that it would stop providing the sector-based standardisation bureau activities<br />
that it had been performing through the BNTB (standardisation bureau for<br />
building technology).<br />
During its meeting on 19 January <strong>2012</strong>, the "Construction and Town Planning"<br />
strategic committee approved the proposals submitted by both the sector-based<br />
standardisation bureaus and AFNOR to take over the standardisation committees.<br />
Seven committees that actively pursue a range of topics cutting<br />
across the entire building industry (earthquake engineering, property<br />
construction, guard rails, heating systems, building thermal performance and<br />
acoustical engineering) have been reassigned to AFNOR. Two committees<br />
are currently inactive, including private car parks. UNM (National Union of<br />
Mechanical Engineering) has taken over all subject areas relating to solar water<br />
heaters, while BNTEC (standardisation bureau for building technology) is now<br />
covering topics relating to the implementation of "heating system" and "solar<br />
energy" committees.<br />
BNTRA - the new standardisation bureau spawned<br />
by the BNSR - BNEVT merger<br />
Late 2011, SETRA (the technical division of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable<br />
Development, Transport and Housing), which oversees the soil & roads (BNSR) and<br />
highways & transport standardisation bureaus (BNEVT), announced its intention<br />
to merge both bureaus. Following approval from the Interdepartmental Standards<br />
Representative, the proposal received the green light from the CCPN and AFNOR's<br />
Board of Directors in <strong>2012</strong>, thus spawning BNTRA (standardisation bureau for<br />
transport, highways and planning).<br />
New chair for BNAE<br />
On 1 June <strong>2012</strong>, Guy Rupied took over from Claude Side as chair of BNAE, the<br />
standardisation bureau for the aviation and space industries. He was previously<br />
Executive Director of GIFAS (Association of French Aerospace Industries).<br />
BNAME becomes BN Ferti<br />
On 21 February <strong>2012</strong>, the standardisation bureau for soil amendment and fertilisers<br />
saw its area of responsibility extended to encompass standardisation of<br />
fertiliser materials, culture media, mulch, compounds and additives, as well as the<br />
methods used to characterise such materials. BNAME is now officially BN Ferti<br />
(fertilisation standardisation bureau).<br />
AFNOR-UTE memorandum of understanding<br />
On 4 December <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR and UTE* put the finishing touches to a global<br />
memorandum of understanding (MoU) in line with France's standardisation<br />
Regulation of 2009. The focus of the MoU concerns AFNOR's designation<br />
as a French member of the IEC* and CENELEC*, as well as ways of<br />
improving the French standardisation system. All the conditions for<br />
enforcing the provisions of the MoU will be defined and finalised in 2013,<br />
with implementation scheduled for 1 January 2014.<br />
AFNOR awarded membership of ETSI, Europe's<br />
no. 3 standardisation body<br />
A knock-on effect of the convergence between digital technology and<br />
telecommunications is the increasing number of overlapping standardisation<br />
fields between the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European<br />
Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC) and/or the European<br />
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Experts from these organisations<br />
therefore need to adopt a holistic approach to all standardisation issues covered at<br />
the European level.<br />
By participating as an ETSI committee member, AFNOR can deliver a practical<br />
response to the needs of the relevant standardisation committees and promote a<br />
broader insight into the CEN and ETSI standardisation bodies.<br />
* UTE (Union for the Electrotechnical Industry) features all the stakeholders representing<br />
the interests of the French electrotechnical industry. As such, UTE constitutes the French<br />
Electrotechnical Committee and is a member of the International Electrotechnical Commission<br />
(IEC) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (CENELEC).<br />
Olivier Peyrat appointed Vice-President (Finance)<br />
of ISO<br />
Following changes to its governance structure, ISO created the position of Vice-<br />
President (Finance). In January 2013, the two-year term was awarded to Olivier<br />
Peyrat, Chief Executive Officer of AFNOR. The appointment of a third vice-president<br />
alongside the Japanese Vice-President (Policy) and the Austrian Vice-President<br />
(Technical Management) reflects the modern face of ISO's governance team.<br />
This appointment also pays tribute to the actions that AFNOR has been<br />
pursuing within ISO in championing the interests of French economic players.<br />
Alain Costes, Director of AFNOR Standardisation, is taking over from Olivier<br />
Peyrat as AFNOR's representative within the ISO Council, alongside the five other<br />
permanent members: United States (ANSI), Japan (JQA), United Kingdom (BSI),<br />
Germany (DIN) and China (SAC).<br />
Europe enacts a regulation on<br />
standardisation<br />
On 14 November <strong>2012</strong>, Regulation 1025/<strong>2012</strong> on European<br />
standardisation was published in the Official Journal of the European<br />
Union and implemented early 2013. The regulation aims to ensure<br />
that standards are prepared more quickly, offer greater<br />
representation of stakeholders and prepare harmonised<br />
European standards in the services field. In terms of<br />
information technology, the regulation provides for identifying the<br />
specifications defined by fora or consortia that may be included<br />
in the European Union's public markets. France was involved from<br />
the outset and played an important role in engineering the regulation.<br />
Acting through its governance bodies, AFNOR also played an<br />
educational role during preparation of the regulation to its stakeholders<br />
and French MEPs (Members of the European Parliament).<br />
12 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 13
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Governance<br />
Keynote speech from Rob Steele,<br />
ISO Secretary-General, to the CCPN<br />
During his official visit to Paris in May <strong>2012</strong>, Rob Steele presented an overview of<br />
ISO's relations with its key partners to the CCPN. CCPN members raised questions<br />
about ISO's relations with American standardisation bodies and how major<br />
countries and emerging nations are positioned in relation to Europe. Rob<br />
Steele gave renewed assurance of Europe's – and France's – influence within ISO.<br />
Although most eyes are focused on China, South Korea's growing involvement<br />
in the international standardisation field should not be overlooked.<br />
D2IE-INPI-AFNOR - joining forces to tackle<br />
economic intelligence, industrial property and<br />
standardisation issues<br />
On Tuesday, 20 March <strong>2012</strong>, D2IE (Interdepartmental Advisory Group on Economic<br />
Intelligence), the National Institute for Industrial Property (INPI) and AFNOR signed<br />
three bilateral agreements aimed at stepping up their cooperative ties during a<br />
meeting guided by the Ministry for industry, Energy and the Digital Economy.<br />
The agreements firm up the commitment of the three parties to take concerted<br />
action in a number of areas, such as supporting companies, especially<br />
SMEs, with their innovation strategies and providing guidance on protecting and<br />
disseminating their innovations; developing awareness-raising and training tools,<br />
and shared teaching aids; and bolstering cooperation on prospective analysis and<br />
strategic intelligence activities by exchanging information more frequently.<br />
AFNOR standardisation fund<br />
This endowment fund was set up in November 2011 and is aimed at promoting<br />
the benefits of standardisation and driving its development.<br />
The fund features four focus areas: sense future standardisation needs, scope out<br />
and identify new potential players, educate about standardisation, and promote<br />
economic intelligence.<br />
Educating about standardisation is one of the test projects that came under<br />
the Board's scrutiny in <strong>2012</strong> and generated a number of contacts with public<br />
educational institutions eligible to receive financial support from the fund.<br />
In order to target the aid that AFNOR intends to award to general-interest<br />
organisations, the Board invited suggestions for eligible topics. The responses<br />
received showed a clear bias towards consumer goods and sustainable lifestyles,<br />
which may encompass the following:<br />
Evaluation of the social and environmental impact and cost.<br />
Customer perception of the environmental impacts.<br />
Measures to increase product service life and maintainability.<br />
Applicants will be invited to submit their projects in 2013.<br />
AFNOR Standardisation<br />
Guidance, leadership and coordination of<br />
work on the French standardisation<br />
system and production of standards and<br />
reference documents.<br />
Director:<br />
Alain Costes<br />
Deputy Director:<br />
Isabelle Rimbert<br />
Guidance and coordination of the<br />
French standardisation system<br />
• Orientation and Development<br />
• Coordination and Support<br />
• European and international affairs<br />
1,942 standards published<br />
including 60% revisions<br />
1,543 standards withdrawn<br />
214 trained standardisation experts<br />
12 new responsibilities gained in <strong>2012</strong> by AFNOR for its<br />
SENIOR MANAGEMENT<br />
Departments<br />
SSB-related activity (7 in ISO and 5 in CEN)<br />
Production of French, European and<br />
international standards<br />
• Food & drink, health and social welfare<br />
• Construction and water cycle<br />
• Industrial engineering and environment<br />
• Services, management and consumer goods<br />
• Transport, energy and communication<br />
14 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
15
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
January <strong>2012</strong><br />
An AFNOR guide to the progressive quality approach<br />
for microbusinesses and SMEs<br />
Various companies have shared their experiences in pursuing<br />
a quality strategy and their quality best practices in favour<br />
of producing a guide on how to implement a progressive quality approach.<br />
The instructional guide uses simple and pragmatic language to<br />
debunk the myths surrounding the ISO 9001 standard. Designed<br />
for microbusinesses and small / medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by a group<br />
of people working within such structures or who are intimately familiar with the<br />
sector, the guide provides readers with an introduction and reminder of what quality<br />
strategies involve. The "Microbusiness and SME guide to superior performance<br />
with a progressive quality approach" strikes a chord with the strategic directions<br />
voiced by microbusiness and SME representatives participating in both the AFNOR<br />
Standards and Trades Consultation Committee (CCNA) and the Standardisation<br />
Coordination and Steering Committee (CCPN).<br />
Preliminary standardisation survey for health and<br />
biotechnology SMEs<br />
AFNOR has teamed up with the Paris Chamber of Commerce (CCIP) to support<br />
Parisian biotech and health SMEs with their growth strategy as part of the<br />
Biotech-Health DEFI plan. Financed by the DIRECCTE Île-de-France government<br />
enterprise agency, Europe (ERDF) and the Île-de-France region, and overseen by<br />
the MEDICEN Paris Région business cluster, this scheme offers a broad array<br />
of tools - training workshops, business conventions, financial<br />
support... - as well as a five-day preliminary standardisation survey. The survey<br />
examines the standards framework surrounding a given innovative project and<br />
provides a set of recommendations on how the project should be tied into the<br />
standardisation activities.<br />
Preventing electrical risks during operations and installations<br />
In January <strong>2012</strong>, the Union for the Electrotechnical Industry (UTE) published<br />
a standard entitled "Operations on electrical structures and installations, and<br />
operations in electrical environments - Prevention of electrical risks". This standard<br />
sets forth a series of preventive measures to ensure personal safety against<br />
electrical risks when working in an electrical environment.<br />
A future standard on ergonomic booths<br />
in household waste sorting centres<br />
Waste sorting is one of the highest-risk jobs for musculoskeletal<br />
disorders (MSDs). However, there is currently no French,<br />
European (CEN) or international (ISO) standard to help professionals<br />
reduce MSDs in sorting centres. Professionals in the sector therefore<br />
called on AFNOR to prepare a standard. Since January <strong>2012</strong>,<br />
an AFNOR committee has been overseeing the future standard,<br />
which will include ergonomic requirements for designing booths<br />
in household waste sorting centres. This normative document will<br />
represent a key tool for identifying the main risk factors<br />
for the health and safety of sorting agents.<br />
Determining energy savings<br />
Eleven countries (Germany, United States, Finland,<br />
France, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa,<br />
Brazil, China and India) played an active part in the second<br />
plenary meeting of the International Technical Committee<br />
"General technical rules for determination of energy<br />
savings" (chaired by France and China) at AFNOR's head<br />
office in January <strong>2012</strong>. Three working groups were created<br />
after the meeting and are responsible for defining the<br />
methodological framework applicable to calculation and<br />
reporting on energy savings, general calculation methods for countries, regions and<br />
cities, and general technical rules for projects and industrial firms. A fourth working<br />
group is tasked with calculating energy efficiency and savings for organisations.<br />
New European requirements for offshore oil and gas equipment<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, the European Commission called on European standardisation bodies to<br />
define a set of harmonised standards specifically for the equipment used by<br />
the offshore oil and gas industries. Such equipment is governed by three directives<br />
relating to explosive atmospheres, pressure equipment and machinery. Harmonised<br />
standards will ensure that these directives apply more effectively to the equipment<br />
used by the industries concerned. The CEN technical committee on materials,<br />
equipment and offshore structures (featuring a French chair and secretariat)<br />
has created an ad hoc group, which is responsible for leading a feasibility study<br />
to quantify the resources and time required to submit an existing standard for<br />
harmonisation. Three types of equipment have been chosen (platform elevators,<br />
cooling towers and centrifugal pumps) to cover all eventualities, from a standard<br />
affected by just one of the directives to a standard affected by several directives.<br />
February <strong>2012</strong><br />
Paintball - moving towards a standard for greater safety<br />
Early <strong>2012</strong> set the scene for the first meeting of the AFNOR committee responsible<br />
for preparing a standard on paintballing in France. Work on the standard involved<br />
defining the safety criteria for non-professional players and how land is used for<br />
paintballing. A draft standard was submitted for public consultation in February<br />
2013. The standard is aimed at ensuring and guaranteeing a higher level of<br />
safety for regular or occasional paintballers, promoting fair competition between<br />
the service providers and distributors in the market, and ultimately enhancing<br />
paintball's image among the public.<br />
March <strong>2012</strong><br />
The French standard on electronic archiving is converted into<br />
an ISO international standard<br />
The international standard on the specifications concerning the design and the<br />
operation of an information system for electronic information preservation is actually<br />
based on a French standard. AFNOR published the French standard in 2009 and<br />
subsequently submitted it to ISO, which voted to transform it into an international<br />
standard. This standard alerts companies to the specifications for the technological<br />
and organisational measures that need to be implemented for recording, archiving,<br />
viewing and disseminating digital documents in order to preserve and<br />
guarantee their integrity.<br />
Creation of a strategic coordination group for nuclear energy<br />
This group is responsible for coordinating the actions spearheaded by French<br />
players in the nuclear industry, especially on a European level. This group will<br />
mirror the CEN-CENELEC "Nuclear Energy" focus group and will also oversee<br />
inter-sector coordination groups working on nuclear issues.<br />
16 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 17
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Vote to revise the ISO 9001 standard on quality<br />
management systems<br />
From 15 October 2011 to 15 March <strong>2012</strong>, ISO consulted with<br />
its member countries on the future of the ISO 9001 standard.<br />
30 countries voted in favour of a revision, including<br />
the main users - France, Brazil, the United States and the United<br />
Kingdom. In June <strong>2012</strong>, the international technical committee<br />
started work on revising the standard, with publication slated for<br />
2015. A working group has been specifically created to oversee<br />
the project. Its members will draw on the results of the ISO survey<br />
carried out among users between October 2010 and February<br />
2011 and which elicited 12,000 replies. They will also take an<br />
in-depth look into the prospect of incorporating such new concepts as a risk<br />
management approach and reinforced process management.<br />
March / October <strong>2012</strong><br />
France - a driving force for water standards<br />
In June <strong>2012</strong>, ISO set up an international task force on water, chaired jointly by<br />
France and Japan, with the aim of implementing the three priorities identified<br />
during the workshop attended by 22 countries in Kobe, Japan, in July of<br />
the same year. These priorities are: Address system water loss and water leakage,<br />
standards for the reuse of water and standards on sludge use and generation. The<br />
task force will also assist ISO in finding the most effective way of organising work<br />
on its existing water standards and determining the best strategy for addressing<br />
the new priorities proposed. The international technical committee on water-related<br />
service activities (for which France is the chair and secretariat) played a key role in<br />
preparing the ground for the sixth World Water Forum held in Marseille in March<br />
<strong>2012</strong>. This three-yearly event strives to encourage progress on the world's water<br />
challenges and share views on the best solutions for addressing those challenges.<br />
Sustainable development in communities -<br />
a new ISO technical committee with AFNOR at the helm<br />
After a year of talks on both a national and international level and following an<br />
official consultation with ISO's member countries between October 2011 and<br />
February <strong>2012</strong>, the French proposal of creating a new technical committee to<br />
address the concept of sustainable development in communities was accepted.<br />
ISO/TC 268 "Sustainable development in communities" held its first meeting from<br />
4 to 6 July <strong>2012</strong> in AFNOR's offices. At the same time, two other proposals relating<br />
to similar topics were assigned to the new ISO/TC 268 technical committee.<br />
The first proposal concerns a draft standard for a system of global city indicators<br />
submitted by the GCIF (Global Cities Indicators Facilities) - a consortium featuring<br />
the World Bank, the OECD, UNEP* and cities around the world. The second<br />
proposal concerns a draft standard for smart community infrastructures submitted<br />
by Japan.<br />
Nanotechnologies - French standardisation on the cutting<br />
edge of a new industrial revolution<br />
These infinitely small particles (the size of an atom) can give materials an innovative<br />
range of properties, but they also raise question marks about the dangers of such<br />
technologies. The challenge consequently facing standardisation is to take part<br />
in this new revolution sweeping industry by creating a framework<br />
of standards. On an international level, France is working on an inspection<br />
method for each danger band and a labelling system for nanomaterials.<br />
Various projects are underway in Europe, including one that is particularly focused<br />
on the responsible development of nanotechnologies and which will involve<br />
assisting industry in managing the risks inherent in nanoproducts. In France,<br />
work is also being pursued on the risk of exposure to workers.<br />
March / June <strong>2012</strong><br />
The manual handling of loads standard hits the regions<br />
In an effort to raise awareness of this standard and how companies can actually<br />
implement the standard to help prevent occupational health and safety risks,<br />
AFNOR held a series of briefing sessions in various cities around the country.<br />
Over 200 business professionals, ergonomists and prevention officers appreciated<br />
the speeches given by members from the standardisation committee. Members<br />
drove home the importance of using the document as a blueprint for improving<br />
practices and minimising the risks inherent in manually handling loads.<br />
April <strong>2012</strong><br />
Cloud computing - facing up to geostrategic challenges with an<br />
international standard<br />
Information system professionals around the world are turning to cloud computing*<br />
in their droves. In October 2010, ISO created a technical committee (with a<br />
Chinese chair and US secretariat) to address the issue of cloud computing, with<br />
a standard in the pipeline for 2014. On a national level, AFNOR has been leading<br />
a standardisation committee to aggregate the standpoints held by<br />
French players and thereby make their voices heard during international talks.<br />
Groundwork has already been carried out internationally to identify the components<br />
of the future standard. Once the tricky task of defining the terminology has been<br />
completed, the standard will be broken down into three target areas - the roles<br />
(suppliers, consumers and auditors), the architectural elements associated with<br />
those roles, and the cross-functional concepts (security, confidentiality and so on).<br />
A normative document for defining and classifying smart textiles<br />
and identifying their functionality<br />
What is a "smart" textile? A normative document prepared under the responsibility<br />
of the standardisation bureau for the textiles and clothing industry (BNITH) defines<br />
and classifies these types of textile. The document also provides indications on<br />
the needs for standardisation in this particular area. Thermally-conductive textiles<br />
(which transfer heat), chromatic textiles (which allow clothes to change colour<br />
according to light, heat or pressure) and phase change textiles (capable of storing<br />
and releasing large amounts of energy when the material changes from the solid<br />
to the liquid state)… these are just some of the examples of functional or smart<br />
textiles presented in the published document and which feature the textile products<br />
and smart textile systems of today's and tomorrow's worlds.<br />
Towards a converged ISO / CEN standard on<br />
machinery safety<br />
Two standards on "machinery safety" with overlapping fields of<br />
application are confusing users about which standard to use:<br />
the ISO 13849-1 standard (Safety-related parts of control systems)<br />
and the IEC 62061 standard (Functional safety of electrical, electronic<br />
and programmable electronic control systems). Aware of the problem,<br />
French partners in the sector have created a joint national task force<br />
between the UNM and UTE to brainstorm potential solutions.<br />
A proposal was therefore fielded to ISO and the IEC to merge both<br />
standards and create an ISO/IEC working group to perform the task.<br />
The French proposal was accepted by ISO/TC 199 and IEC/TC 44,<br />
and the joint task force held its first meeting in London on 12 and 13<br />
March <strong>2012</strong>. Philippe Juhel (IEC expert – Schneider Electric) was<br />
appointed to head up the task force, with the UNM acting as secretary.<br />
* Cloud Computing is a computing architecture where users can remotely access hardware<br />
resources (data hosting, applications, etc.) over the Internet.<br />
* UNEP: United Nations Environment Programme.<br />
18 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 19
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
April / December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Perception system performance<br />
The development of perception systems - reversing radars, intrusion detection,<br />
traffic sign analysis, and so on – is unlikely to create a major stir in the market<br />
unless efforts are made to create a standard set of methods for assessing<br />
and comparing their performance. An initial project carried out during <strong>2012</strong><br />
(the Quasper R&D governmental fund) confirmed the need for and feasibility<br />
of such a standard. The decision was therefore taken to create the SYSPER<br />
task force under the responsibility of Thalès. The first work meeting was held<br />
in December.<br />
The objective facing participants (manufacturers, systems integrators and security<br />
users) is to publish a national joint voluntary standard by mid-2013.<br />
June <strong>2012</strong><br />
Publication of a second white paper on environmentally-responsible<br />
information systems<br />
Environmentally-responsible information systems can be<br />
used to design and leverage information and communication<br />
technologies with the aim of minimising the environmental<br />
impact of the various functional areas within the organisation.<br />
This second white paper builds on the 2010 version<br />
and delivers a set of recommendations on how to<br />
implement an environmentally-responsible<br />
information system. The target readership<br />
includes people in charge of information systems,<br />
corporate services and purchasing, as well as information<br />
system users, software vendors, service providers and<br />
systems integrators.<br />
Second meeting of the task force responsible for defining<br />
a standard for culinary siphons<br />
Culinary siphons are pressurised appliances that use a gas cartridge.<br />
Serious accidents have occurred where the siphon head has broken and been<br />
propelled outwards, especially when fitting the gas cartridge in the appliance.<br />
AFNOR began leading standardisation work on culinary siphons at the request<br />
of the LNE (National Metrology and Test Laboratory). In 2010 and 2011,<br />
manufacturers, retailers and exporters of siphons called on the LNE to check the<br />
safety of such products. Early <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR set up a specific task force to prepare<br />
a standard defining the safety requirements for these pressure appliances.<br />
The future French standard will contain test methods and common specifications<br />
for siphon safety.<br />
Release of the responsible purchasing standard<br />
A new standard provides guidance on how to apply the ISO 26000<br />
standard on social responsibility to purchasing.<br />
The first part of the standard on responsible purchasing discusses on the political<br />
and strategic challenges facing purchasing divisions. The second part addresses<br />
the purchasing process and supports the deployment of a social responsibility<br />
initiative with a view to incorporating the various aspects of social responsibility,<br />
as described in ISO 26000, into economic considerations.<br />
International work based on the French standard was launched early 2013 and is<br />
being overseen by both France and Brazil.<br />
August <strong>2012</strong><br />
Moves towards an international standard on service quality in<br />
customer contact centres<br />
In the wake of the publication of a French and European standard on customer<br />
contact centres, ISO (International Organization for Standardization) has created<br />
a new technical committee to define an international standard in this particular<br />
field. To date, there is no international code of conduct governing customer<br />
contact centres, whether for incoming calls made by consumers or outgoing calls<br />
made to consumers by the call centre. The purpose of the future standard is to<br />
guarantee consumers an effective and high-quality service. It should<br />
address the system for dealing with customer complaints entailing various forms<br />
of communication, so-called "critical" situations, the consumer level of service and<br />
ways of assessing operator performance. The standard is also aimed at improving<br />
relations between consumers and call centres.<br />
September <strong>2012</strong><br />
Preliminary standardisation work on the description of<br />
construction products<br />
After consulting with interested parties during the summer, AFNOR began working<br />
on defining a standard method for describing the properties of<br />
construction products, based on the existing properties defined in the quality<br />
standards, regulations and trademarks. The AFNOR standardisation committee<br />
features construction product manufacturers, project managers, architects and<br />
property developers.<br />
Solar energy - new standardisation projects<br />
On 12 July, members of the "Solar Energy" committee held a meeting chaired<br />
by the UNM, which had taken over the committee's missions following BNTB's<br />
withdrawal. Members voted in favour of including new topics relating to the<br />
durability and performance of vacuum tubes and heat pipes, and simultaneously<br />
developing work on both a European and international level. The committee's<br />
field of activity, which currently focuses on solar collectors and the associated<br />
equipment for air and water heating appliances and refrigeration devices (excluding<br />
photovoltaic collectors, as covered by UTE UF82) was approved. Members<br />
are currently brainstorming ways of developing the committee's activities and<br />
ushering in new technologies, such as cylindrical panels and solar dishes,<br />
as well as industrial processes.<br />
Second survey launched into the use of the ISO 26000<br />
standard in France<br />
The first survey into the use of ISO 26000 (standard providing guidance<br />
on social responsibility) in France helped identify initial feedback that<br />
served as the basis for a report published on the website of the<br />
ISO 26000 Observatory. In addition to the report, the initial survey allowed ISO 26000<br />
users to voice their need for documents and tools with a greater operational and<br />
practical bias. The publication of the first ISO 26000 user guides for purchasing,<br />
communication and the food & drink industry represents an initial response to<br />
users' expectations. The second survey was conducted between September and<br />
October <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Creation of a carbon dioxide capture, transportation and geological<br />
storage standardisation committee<br />
After several months of investigations, the carbon dioxide capture, transportation<br />
and geological storage coordination group secured consensus for organising<br />
work on the subject. This work comes in response to Canada's calls for an<br />
international technical committee. ISO/TC 265 will therefore be followed by a<br />
new standardisation committee. In light of the major social challenges facing<br />
this area, this committee reports to the environmental and social<br />
responsibility strategic committees. Some subject areas may be<br />
delegated to the standardisation bureau for the gas industry (BNG). Marc David<br />
- Air Liquide - was appointed chaiman of this committee in November <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
France has actually secured its place alongside China in heading up and acting as<br />
secretary for the international working group on cross-functional subjects.<br />
October <strong>2012</strong><br />
A standard defines the requirements for carrying out quality<br />
energy audits<br />
Energy audits are a key stage for any organisation intent on streamlining its<br />
energy use. The NF EN 16247-1 standard published in October <strong>2012</strong> sets<br />
out the general requirements for energy audits and responds to the European<br />
Contribution des organisations au Développement Durable<br />
A fiche ISO 26 00 40x60 vec.in d 1 2/03/10 13:24:23<br />
20 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 21
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Significant events in <strong>2012</strong> - Standardisation<br />
Commission's request to the CEN to issue Member States with a standard meeting<br />
the requirement of Article 8 of the Energy Efficiency Directive. Article 8 calls on the<br />
Member States to promote the availability to all final customers of high quality<br />
energy audits which are cost-effective and makes energy audits mandatory<br />
for large enterprises. The NF EN 16247-1 standard serves as a benchmark for<br />
carrying out energy audits and is quoted in the recitals of the new directive.<br />
November <strong>2012</strong><br />
Managing a project from A to Z - the first international standard on<br />
project management<br />
In a move to provide guidance to companies and especially project managers and<br />
team members, an international standard building upon the collection of French<br />
standards sets out a series of recommendations relating to the concepts and<br />
processes of project management. The universal project management concepts set<br />
out in this standard answer such questions as, "What is a project?", "What is project<br />
management?" and "What is the best project management strategy?". The standard<br />
also identifies the recommended project management processes, like<br />
preparing the project charter, forming the project team and defining the project<br />
organisation.<br />
AFNOR focuses the spotlight on workplace lighting<br />
AFNOR has produced a draft standard that sets out the ergonomic principles and<br />
a specific method for defining the essential components of workplace lighting.<br />
The draft indicates the benchmarks and recommendations for ensuring<br />
employees' visual comfort. For example, lighting levels must be tailored<br />
to actual working conditions and allow employees to perform their tasks as<br />
comfortably as possible. The draft standard delivers a set of methods for installing<br />
lighting in the workplace. Lighting engineers now have access to a wealth of<br />
practical information for installing their lighting systems.<br />
Future European standards on cocoa and cocoa-based products<br />
In May <strong>2012</strong>, the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) decided to create<br />
a technical committee on sustainable and traceable cocoa. The aim is to deliver<br />
an effective response to the needs voiced by European manufacturers in<br />
the cocoa industry. The committee's work should ultimately lead to a series of draft<br />
standards detailing requirements for sustainability and traceability during cocoa<br />
bean production and recommendations for certification bodies involved in assessing<br />
the conformity of cocoa sustainability and traceability. Future standards will foster<br />
improved living conditions and income for plantation workers, while helping wipe<br />
out forced labour and child labour. The AFNOR standardisation committee set up<br />
late <strong>2012</strong> will play an active role in the work carried out by CEN.<br />
December <strong>2012</strong><br />
Effective business continuity management to prevent any<br />
disruptive incidents<br />
Installing a business continuity management system (BCMS) can shield<br />
against disruptive incidents and reduce the likelihood of those incidents occurring,<br />
while allowing organisations to prepare for, respond to and recover from any such<br />
incidents. The ISO 22301 standard sets out requirements for establishing and<br />
Plans for a new national appendix to Eurocode 3<br />
for designing steel structures<br />
The national appendix to the Eurocode 3 standard on the general rules for<br />
designing steel structures was revised and submitted for public consultation<br />
in November <strong>2012</strong>. The appendix was prepared by AFNOR acting under the<br />
delegated authority of the standardisation bureau for structural steelwork.<br />
What are Eurocodes? Eurocodes are a set of 58 European standards<br />
harmonising the design methods used for verifying the stability<br />
and sizing of the different structural elements of buildings and engineered<br />
structures. The draft national appendix defines the conditions for applying the<br />
"Eurocode 3: Design of steel structures - General rules and rules for buildings"<br />
standard in France.<br />
managing an effective business continuity management system.<br />
These requirements allow organisations to plan, establish, implement,<br />
operate, monitor, review, maintain and continually improve a business continuity<br />
management system. Requirements therefore follow the PDCA model (Plan-Do-<br />
Check-Act), such as it applies to quality management systems.<br />
A standard for correctly assembling flat-pack furniture<br />
The standardisation bureau for timber and furnishings (BNBA) has produced a<br />
standard containing a list of requirements and recommendations for the information<br />
to be supplied with flat-pack furniture, the aim being to help consumers and<br />
guarantee high-quality results. The "Home furniture – Information to be supplied with<br />
flat-pack furniture - requirements and recommendations" standard also describes<br />
the type of information that should be given to buyers before and after the purchase<br />
and the information to be supplied with the product if necessary. The standard<br />
is intended for flat-pack furniture manufacturers and furniture professionals,<br />
retailers and distributors.<br />
Gas installation safety - a new version of the flagship standard<br />
This new version of the standard defines the terms for carrying out safety<br />
inspections on indoor gas installations for domestic use during the sale of<br />
residential property and specifies the role of the different stakeholders<br />
concerned (inspection firms, gas utilities, contracting parties, property<br />
management companies, social landlords and installation owners).<br />
New mission for the "Personal home care services"<br />
standardisation committee<br />
In the wake of the publication of the regulation in September 2011,<br />
amending certain provisions of the French Labour Code relating to personal<br />
services, several players in the sector called for a revision to the "Personal home<br />
care services" standard. The regulation is aimed at simplifying the rules for new<br />
personal service organisations by replacing the current accreditation system with a<br />
self-assessment system. The revised standard should form a common framework<br />
of requirements to promote the expertise of professionals working in the sector.<br />
It will be designed to help organisations apply, maintain and improve their service<br />
quality strategy in accordance with the requirements of the<br />
regulation. AFNOR's "Personal home care services" standardisation committee<br />
has therefore been revived.<br />
AFNOR and Le Moniteur produce a handbook<br />
on standards and construction<br />
How is a standard created? What is the scope of application for<br />
standards in the construction industry? How do they relate to the<br />
CE marking? How do they apply to public procurement? The Le<br />
Moniteur handbook on public works and construction answers<br />
such questions. The handbook is essential reading for any<br />
players in the construction industry. Serving as benchmarks<br />
with respect to product implementation, design, services, and so<br />
on, standards are prevalent throughout the construction and civil<br />
engineering sector. Some standards have become mandatory,<br />
insofar as they are irreplaceable and concern all stakeholders. Most of<br />
the non-mandatory standards often serve as a reference for insurers<br />
when dealing with claims and for magistrates when handling disputes.<br />
Consumer reviews on the Internet<br />
The future standard that AFNOR has created to give Internet users greater<br />
confidence in the reviews posted online received over 300 comments when<br />
submitted for public enquiry on 2 December <strong>2012</strong>. The draft standard has<br />
received considerable media exposure and was defined by consensus<br />
with close to 50 organisations (review sites, consumer associations, trade unions,<br />
enterprises, local authorities and local government). The standard will strive to<br />
achieve such aims as building consumers' trust in websites that collect and post<br />
other consumers' reviews, and helping companies and organisations improve their<br />
products and services in response to consumer reviews that have been collected<br />
and posted in a reliable manner and enabling them to communicate with their<br />
customers. The standard is due to be published mid-2013…<br />
22 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 23
Institutional affairs and<br />
international cooperation<br />
Member network<br />
The organisational structure of the "Institutional Affairs and Technical Cooperation"<br />
Department underwent a series of changes in <strong>2012</strong>. Incorporated into the<br />
standardisation activity on 1 January 2013, the department is responsible for<br />
overseeing all of AFNOR's relations with European and international<br />
institutions, especially as they relate to standardisation. The<br />
department keeps tabs on all standardisation work and carries out the necessary<br />
groundwork ahead of the meetings attended by AFNOR's Chief Executive Officer<br />
or Director of Standardisation in European and international standardisation bodies<br />
(CEN, ISO, etc.). The department is responsible for reporting to and consulting with<br />
the CCPN, and also oversees all work aimed at promoting international technical<br />
cooperation. Since January 2013, the department's 11-strong team has been<br />
reporting directly to the Director of AFNOR Standardisation and driving the actions<br />
of the unit in charge of ISO and CEN technical affairs, thereby developing synergistic<br />
ties and strengthening our influence in the international arena.<br />
During <strong>2012</strong>, the teams continued spearheading a number of initiatives aimed at<br />
reinforcing France's influence in the standardisation sector. For instance, AFNOR<br />
brought all its weight to bear during reforms to CEN's governance<br />
structure to safeguard the place of French standardisation representatives in the<br />
organisation and ensure its effective oversight.<br />
AFNOR was also actively involved in the changes to Regulation 125/<strong>2012</strong> on<br />
European standardisation, which will take effect early 2013.<br />
AFNOR also consulted to government officials on strategies for strengthening the<br />
country's influence and contributed to the report on "International Standardisation<br />
and Influence Strategies" penned by the Interdepartmental Advisory Group on<br />
Economic Intelligence (January <strong>2012</strong>) and the report on "Developing a strategic<br />
influence in the international standards sector for France" by Claude Revel as part of<br />
the mission vested by the Ministry of Foreign Trade in September <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
AFNOR continues to play a highly active role within the RNF (French-Speaking<br />
Standardisation Network), a forum where members share views and brainstorm<br />
ideas on standardisation, especially with African countries. AFNOR actually<br />
sent a delegation to the first French Language World Forum (Quebec,<br />
July <strong>2012</strong>).<br />
AFNOR also lends its support to DEVCO (committee for leading ISO work on<br />
developing countries) with a number of French-language events, such as ISO 50001<br />
training in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the ISO/IEC/DEVCO regional seminar<br />
in Burkina Faso.<br />
Part of the activities that AFNOR has been championing for many years to promote<br />
technical cooperation on an international level in the field of quality infrastructures*<br />
has been transferred to ADETEF, the international cooperation agency of the<br />
Ministries for the Economy, Budget, Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transport<br />
and Housing. The transfer was made official by means of a partnership agreement,<br />
whereby AFNOR has agreed to provide ADETEF with its skills in developing and<br />
mobilising expertise.<br />
AFNOR is continuing to provide services under its other contracts, including technical<br />
support in Belarus, twinning in<br />
Tunisia, work on Eurocodes in<br />
Montenegro in association with ASI<br />
(Austria), and energy efficiency in<br />
the Ukraine in liaison with ADETEF.<br />
* Metrology, accreditation,<br />
standardisation and evaluation of<br />
conformity.<br />
Note<br />
<strong>2012</strong> brought a close to AFNOR's technical<br />
cooperation services with ARYM (Macedonia),<br />
a candidate country for EU membership. ARYM and<br />
its standardisation body, ISRM, enlisted AFNOR's<br />
expertise in 2010 to help meet its free trade<br />
requirements. The 19-month cooperation services<br />
involved the challenge of setting up a strengthened<br />
standardisation and certification system, which<br />
ultimately ended in success.<br />
Forming a network with AFNOR at the epicentre, members<br />
are first in line when it comes to receiving information<br />
throughout the year on the latest developments in<br />
standards and legislation.<br />
The new subscription pricing scheme came into force in<br />
<strong>2012</strong>. The scheme takes account of the revenue that<br />
companies have generated, especially SMEs and mid-cap<br />
companies, which helps ensure that the subscription fees<br />
paid by members are spread out more evenly. The pricing<br />
scheme is based on various subscription levels. The services<br />
available within each level depend on the fees paid by<br />
the company.<br />
Of the 2,083 members, including 50 new subscriptions in<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, nearly a quarter are manufacturers. The remaining<br />
members are service providers (14%), metal industry<br />
firms (8.6%), traders and wholesalers (7.6%), and test,<br />
inspection and analysis laboratories (7.3%). Members are<br />
mainly located in the Greater Paris area and the Rhônes-<br />
Alpes-Auverge region.<br />
Members are entitled to a broad array of special privileges,<br />
including VIP Meetings, which are attended by executive<br />
officers from leading international standardisation bodies<br />
(ISO, SAC, and so on). In <strong>2012</strong>, close to 550 members had<br />
chance to discuss a broad range of topics, including such<br />
future subjects as responsible purchasing and biomimetics,<br />
with experts from various sectors.<br />
The first version of a guide for<br />
standardisation coordinators<br />
rolled off the press in <strong>2012</strong>. Driven<br />
by the latest practices, the guide<br />
represents a tool for the member<br />
company's executive officers and<br />
other functional areas interfacing<br />
with senior management.<br />
24 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
25
Standardisation costs and resources<br />
AFNOR Publishing<br />
Standardisation activities are joint projects that benefit all social and economic<br />
players. Funding for such activities comes from a wide number of sources,<br />
such as the government, businesses and their representative organisations,<br />
consumer associations, regional authorities, NGOs and trade unions.<br />
Standardisation activities are funded according to specific rules:<br />
AFNOR's role of guiding and coordinating comes from<br />
government subsidies, which are subject to an annual agreement and<br />
performance contract signed for 2011 to 2015, and AFNOR membership fees.<br />
The role of authoring standards is funded through standardisation<br />
contracts brokered with the main interested parties, the proceeds from the sale<br />
of standards and fees collected from AFNOR members. All standardisation work<br />
is carried out under contract, meaning that it is financed by the stakeholders<br />
involved in the work. The time that "experts" (professionals from every sector<br />
contributing to the standard) spend on subjects selected or suggested by<br />
standardisation bodies (analysis of working documents, comments, proposals,<br />
participation in meetings, etc.), plus travel to meetings in France and abroad,<br />
represents the largest cost item in the standardisation process.<br />
AFNOR's subsidiaries (certification, training and international activities)<br />
contribute to the association's results.<br />
AFNOR<br />
SSB<br />
Allocation of standardisation resources in France<br />
AFNOR Standardisation resources<br />
Government subsidies Guidance and coordination of the system<br />
Membership<br />
• Standardisation contracts<br />
• Remuneration for<br />
producing standards*<br />
• Own resources (contracts,<br />
membership...)<br />
• Remuneration for<br />
producing standards*<br />
• Oversight and strategy<br />
• European and international affairs<br />
• Evaluation and coordination<br />
of requirements<br />
• Organisation of public enquiry processes<br />
• Approval and publication of standards<br />
Production of standards and reference<br />
documents by AFNOR<br />
Production of standards<br />
and reference documents by the<br />
sector-based standardisation bureaus<br />
Publisher of standards-based<br />
professional and technical<br />
solutions and information<br />
geared towards four key needs:<br />
document access, intelligence,<br />
analysis and assessment.<br />
Breakdown in business revenue<br />
64%<br />
Subscriptions and<br />
bespoke products<br />
6%<br />
Books and collections<br />
30%<br />
Individual<br />
standards<br />
Books/standards collections.........100 new publications<br />
Individual standards................ over 100,000<br />
standards sold<br />
Subscription solutions............ over 100,000<br />
users worldwide<br />
* Remuneration calculated according to proceeds from the sale of standards and the share in AFNOR's<br />
overall normative activity.<br />
Norm’info ..........over 30,000 telephone enquiries,<br />
answer rate: 98.7%<br />
Director: Isabelle Sitbon<br />
26 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
27
AFNOR Publishing<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
On the cutting edge of technology with<br />
the XML format<br />
Customers of AFNOR Publishing can rest assured of easy access to the latest<br />
standards and regulations at all times from a trustworthy source.<br />
With digital products and services accounting for 90% of its portfolio,<br />
AFNOR Publishing believes in technological innovation as a driving force<br />
for development.<br />
The latest innovation pioneered by AFNOR Publishing is support for the HTML<br />
format, representing a first in the world of access to standards. This technology<br />
changes the way in which users navigate and view information, while delivering<br />
easier, more intuitive access to the full standards and regulations. AFNOR<br />
Publishing has gone to great lengths to promote all the advantages of this new<br />
format to its customers, with the focus on knowledge-building and easy sharing.<br />
All subscription solutions offering access to AFNOR Publishing's document base now<br />
include HTML-based functionality. The idea quickly proved successful, with an<br />
advanced search feature for looking up terms within standards, instant display,<br />
navigation chapter-by-chapter or standard-by-standard… customers were won<br />
over by the advantages of this technology.<br />
Early 2013, the added value of this technology also gave a boost to unit sales<br />
of standards.<br />
The growing stream of standards around the world<br />
AFNOR Publishing's international dimension plays a key role, whether by giving<br />
French companies easy access to foreign standards or by disseminating AFNOR's<br />
standards abroad. This strategy frequently prompts AFNOR Publishing to enter<br />
into distribution agreements with its various counterparts.<br />
The last agreement to date was signed in September <strong>2012</strong> with the<br />
Brazilian National Standards Organisation (ABNT) for the dissemination of<br />
each other's standards, thereby giving organisations around the world a passport<br />
to economic development.<br />
Online standard sales<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, unit sales of standards grew by 5%. Changes to AFNOR Publishing's<br />
online store had something to do with this success story. With over 100,000<br />
standards, 300 collections and books, the online store acts as a one-stop shop<br />
for all standards-related information. The store's new-look interface launched in<br />
April is designed to simplify viewing and the online purchasing process, with new<br />
search modes, new areas such as "standards and essential reading" for each<br />
subject area or sector of activity, and "foreign standards" arranged by subject<br />
area and collection.<br />
Kheox - an exclusive<br />
information portal for<br />
construction firms<br />
Acting on an initiative from the Moniteur Group, the leading news provider<br />
for the construction industry, AFNOR Publishing entered into a partnership to<br />
launch Kheox in September <strong>2012</strong>, an online technical and regulatory information<br />
portal for construction professionals.<br />
What makes this online service especially innovative is how it provides extensive<br />
coverage of all construction topics and creates links between official texts<br />
(codes, regulations, orders, etc.), standards and their terms for implementation.<br />
Users can also leverage the standards and legislative intelligence feature, which<br />
keeps them clued into the latest developments in real time. Construction details,<br />
illustrations and summary diagrams also add to the available content.<br />
The power of words<br />
Standards are obviously what all of AFNOR Publishing's publications have in<br />
common. Authors strive to decipher, analyse and reflect how standards apply<br />
within organisations. Readers are given a wealth of advice, recommendations<br />
and knowledge for making best advantage of the added value inherent in<br />
standards. The essential reading list includes "Truly managing by quality" (Michel<br />
Bellaïche), "Ten keys for achieving QSE certification" (Claude Pinet), "ISO 26000,<br />
Social responsibility" (AFNOR collection) and many other works covering such<br />
topics as sustainable development, health and safety, and management.<br />
AFNOR Certification<br />
Over 60,000 certified sites in<br />
over 100 countries<br />
NF Product, Service and Ecolabels....... 270certified product<br />
and service categories<br />
Nearly 8,000 personnel certificates<br />
Over 20 accreditations*, approvals and endorsements in six<br />
geographic areas (six countries)<br />
*COFRAC accreditations no. 4-0001,<br />
no. 3-0738, no. 4-0057, no. 5-0030,<br />
no. 5-0071; UKAS accreditation no.<br />
04-0571; TUNAC accreditation;<br />
TAF accreditation; DAkkS accreditation;<br />
ACCREDIA endorsement. The scopes<br />
of accreditation are available on the<br />
following sites: www.cofrac.fr,<br />
www.accredia.it, www.ukas.com,<br />
www.tunac.tn, service.taftw.org.tw<br />
and www.dakks.de.<br />
32 standards and fields concerned<br />
Certification and<br />
assessment services<br />
and engineering<br />
Managing Director:<br />
Florence Méaux<br />
Deputy Managing Director:<br />
Philippe Rabut<br />
28 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
29
AFNOR Certification<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
AFNOR Certification<br />
Business was good for AFNOR Certification in <strong>2012</strong>, which cemented its leadership status in the certification sector<br />
by advising companies to invest in certification approaches meeting their strategic challenges and geared towards<br />
the new trends or issues shaping society. AFNOR Certification confirmed its role as a trailblazer in corporate social<br />
responsibility, with a 25% increase in this area alone.<br />
Giving small businesses a gateway to quality<br />
AFNOR Certification is launching a progressive method geared<br />
towards microbusinesses and SMEs, entitled AFAQ 9001 stepby-step.<br />
This method provides a practical three-step approach to<br />
certification. For companies with fewer than 50 employees, AFNOR<br />
Certification has gone further still by putting together a pack of tools<br />
to chart their way towards certification, ranging from hands-on training<br />
through to the provision of the "progressive quality" standard (released<br />
early <strong>2012</strong>) and self-assessment with the OK Pilot tool.<br />
CSR and its models for assessing<br />
sustainable development<br />
Following their initial assessment, over 70% of the 200 companies<br />
assessed against AFAQ 26000 criteria expressed their desire<br />
to implement a true continual improvement approach towards<br />
sustainable development. Some decide to focus on an activity<br />
or a function within the company, such as purchasing or human<br />
resources. Companies are turning towards CSR as a marketing<br />
tool and a way of steering their internal operations. Such practices<br />
tend to show that their efforts are on the same wavelength as<br />
consumers' expectations. CSR can also galvanise an entire sector<br />
into action - landscaping firms are now treading in the footsteps of<br />
communication companies by pouncing upon the AFAQ assessment model.<br />
This trend has been confirmed with customer relations centres, and AFNOR<br />
Certification has been enlisted to carry out assessments for the highly esteemed<br />
ALRS (Association for the promotion and development of the customer relationship<br />
social responsability label) social responsibility hallmark.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, a specific version of AFAQ 26000 was designed for local<br />
authorities. This AFAQ assessment model is based on ISO 26000, the first<br />
international standard to provide guidance on social responsibility and on the<br />
reference framework governing territorial sustainable development - the local<br />
Agenda 21. Offering an overarching review of the practices and commitments,<br />
this model provides a starting point for authoring the sustainable development<br />
report, which is mandatory for local authorities with over 50,000 inhabitants.<br />
Florence Méaux, Michel Sapin, Marisol Touraine, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, Denis Morin,<br />
Claude Evin and Christian Dubosq<br />
The Diversity hallmark boasts 840,000 people<br />
While the European Commission has officially recognised the exemplary aims<br />
of the Diversity hallmark, France's independent broadcasting authority has<br />
submitted its annual report to parliament, in which it recommends rolling out the<br />
Diversity hallmark to encompass all television and radio operators. In October,<br />
five ministries and two regional health agencies were awarded the Diversity<br />
hallmark for their long-term commitment to fighting against discrimination.<br />
This achievement comes hot on the heels of the hallmark recently awarded to the<br />
financial ministries.<br />
In addition to the government's exemplary track record, organisations of all shapes<br />
and sizes are also looking to achieve the Diversity hallmark as a testament of their<br />
corporate policy. To date, 380 organisations with a total of 840,000 employees<br />
have received the hallmark in France.<br />
Industries leading the way<br />
The aviation, railway, food & drink, and healthcare & social welfare industries<br />
underwent dynamic growth in <strong>2012</strong>. When an entire industry or union springs into<br />
action, virtuous and determining effects can be enjoyed by all member companies.<br />
Aviation - a successful transition for EN 9100:2009<br />
By deploying its certification system on a global scale (Asia, America and Europe),<br />
AFNOR Certification has brought its 800 customers up to speed on the new<br />
version of standards in the EN 9100 series before the January 2013 deadline.<br />
Published back in 2003, the previous version of the standard has been reinforced<br />
with requirements for aerospace manufacturers and a new audit approach based<br />
on process effectiveness.<br />
Food & drink<br />
High environmental value (HVE) is an endorsement system that has been<br />
identified as part of France's Grenelle environmental act. It aims to promote<br />
all farms that agree to curb the use of herbicides and fungicides. The scheme<br />
features three levels, the most demanding of which is HVE certification. AFNOR<br />
Certification has obtained accreditation from the National Committee on<br />
Environmental Certification (CNCE).<br />
Another major event of the year is AFNOR Certification's membership of the<br />
Certipaq Board of Directors - one of France's leading certification authorities for<br />
agricultural and food products. This move strengthens the partnership between<br />
both bodies based on an offering that combines systems certification with food<br />
quality hallmarks.<br />
Railway industry<br />
Deployment of IRIS certification has been extended to Quebec thanks to<br />
the partnership with the Bureau de Normalisation du Québec (BNQ). AFNOR<br />
Certification drew on its vast experience to qualify local auditors and issue the first<br />
series of certificates.<br />
Healthcare & social welfare<br />
The number of companies achieving the NF Service certification in<br />
"Personal Home Care Services" broke the 1,000 barrier in <strong>2012</strong>. Recognised<br />
by professionals, users and public authorities, this scheme allows certified<br />
companies to automatically renew their accreditation.<br />
Social integration and temporary employment enterprises are dedicated to<br />
securing employment for people that have great difficulty in finding work. To focus<br />
the spotlight on the social values championed by such companies and their ability<br />
to lead by example, France's National Committee of Social Integration Enterprises<br />
called on AFNOR Certification to create the AFAQ EI/ETTI certification scheme.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, 125 workshops were awarded the APP coaching label by AFNOR<br />
Certification. Lifelong learning represents a major challenge in today's world,<br />
and coaching workshops (APP) offer an effective solution by providing a venue for<br />
training with a broad array of teaching resources. Coaching professionals deliver<br />
support and guidance to adults pursuing an assisted self-learning programme.<br />
Over 300: that is the number of people that have been awarded certification<br />
for their skills in assessing social economy enterprises. This certification scheme<br />
offers an additional source of recognition for organisations in the social economy<br />
sector that are legally required to carry out internal and external assessments.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR Certification and certification body Certipharm are<br />
strengthening their cooperative ties in a bid to better serve drug and cosmetics<br />
firms, as well as professionals delivering services to such firms. The idea is to allow<br />
companies to more effectively meet the requirements of the ISO 9001 standard and<br />
also the specific requirements of the pharmaceutical industry through joint audits.<br />
Latest news on the NF mark<br />
The NF network – featuring AFNOR Certification, which oversees the NF<br />
mark certification system, and 12 organisations (AFCAB, ASCQUER, CEQUAMI,<br />
CERIB, CERQUAL, CERTIGAZ, CERTITA, CERTIVEA, CSTB, FCBA, LCIE and<br />
LNE) that are authorised to issue the NF mark in their respective areas of activity –<br />
signed a joint statement on 5 October <strong>2012</strong> to confirm its commitment to develop<br />
the NF mark. The NF mark is a distinctive quality hallmark recognised by 85%<br />
of the French population and is the premier certification mark for products and<br />
services in France. Construction products, buildings, extinguishers, furnishings,<br />
waste bags, electrical products, condoms, furniture… the NF mark is available<br />
for over 200 different categories to give professionals and consumers alike<br />
the possibility of identifying high-quality products. A product bearing the NF<br />
mark sends out a strong signal that it has passed a stringent list of technical<br />
requirements and inspection methods, thereby reassuring users and consumers.<br />
The NF mark is actually one of the most demanding quality hallmarks in Europe.<br />
The NF mark in figures<br />
• Six new NF marks launched: NF Extinguishing Agents, NF Driver<br />
Assistance Systems, NF Environment - Central Battery Lighting<br />
Systems (LCIE), NF Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Beams<br />
for Block and Beam Floors (CERIB), NF PVC - ALU - FIBREGLASS<br />
Exterior Doors (CSTB), NF Metal Flues and Tubing (CERTITA)<br />
• 100,000 housing units awarded the NF Housing mark by CERQUAL<br />
• First companies awarded the NF Service - Customer Relations mark<br />
in Morocco and Mauritius<br />
• 210 firms awarded the NF Service & APSAD mark for installing and<br />
maintaining CCTV systems<br />
30 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 31
AFNOR Certification<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
Events / success stories<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
• 1,000th post office to achieve Service Commitment certification<br />
Blazing a trail since 1989 in certifying the performance of rapid<br />
microbiological test kits for food and water, AFNOR Certification<br />
has been pursuing its international development with nearly 130 kits<br />
certified according to the NF Validation mark. 20 companies have<br />
been awarded the mark, 50% of whom with foreign customers.<br />
In October, AFNOR Certification, the French Federation of Fire Safety<br />
Equipment (FFMI), GIFSID and Calyxis staged a colloquium in Paris on the<br />
"reliability of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors". The event underlined the<br />
importance of using products bearing the NF mark to effectively protect people<br />
and property.<br />
For the fifth year running, AFNOR Certification partnered the customer relations<br />
awards event held by AFRC (French Association of Customer Relations). The event<br />
focuses the spotlight on the NF Service - Customer Relations Centre mark.<br />
Other assessment and certification marks<br />
in the pipeline<br />
AFAQ ISO 22222 certification – personal financial<br />
planning, launched with the National Association of<br />
Financial Planners (Anacofi). International standard<br />
ISO 22222 builds on the regulations for consulting firms<br />
with a duty to inform and advise their customers. It<br />
defines the key points of the personal financial planning<br />
process and specifies ethical behaviour, competences<br />
and experience requirements for personal financial<br />
planners. Certification by an independent third-party<br />
organisation – AFNOR Certification – proves that<br />
financial planners are meeting their obligations.<br />
The Envol mark – a scheme for recognising the environmental commitments<br />
made by companies with fewer than 50 employees. The mark has been under<br />
development and in trial since 2009 by the network of chambers of commerce<br />
and industry, chambers of trades and environmental agency ADEME. Since June<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, the mark has been issued exclusively by AFNOR Certification.<br />
Management controllers are now recognised by the AFNOR Certification<br />
of Persons mark (in liaison with the DFCG - the Association of CFOs and<br />
Management Controllers). Assessment for this mark is carried out against the<br />
criteria of international standard ISO 17024, which guarantees the professionalism<br />
and code of conduct of all certified parties.<br />
• Over 250 opticians achieved certification<br />
• 150 "trusted sales advisers" received AFNOR Certification of persons<br />
• 900 sites certified according to the AFAQ 14001 step-by-step<br />
approach<br />
• Pierre Fabre laboratories assessed against AFAQ 26000 criteria<br />
worldwide and with over 10,000 people<br />
• First Lucie labels issued by AFNOR Certification<br />
Happenings in <strong>2012</strong><br />
In accordance with Article 225 of France's Grenelle II environmental act and<br />
taking effect as of <strong>2012</strong>, listed companies (and soon corporations with revenue<br />
in excess of 100 million euros) are legally required to have the information in their<br />
CSR report verified by an accredited independent organisation, such as AFNOR<br />
Certification.<br />
The Ecophyto Plan 2018 spearheaded as part of the Grenelle environmental<br />
act aims to halve the use of pesticides at the national level within 10 years.<br />
All companies in the plant protection industry (whether distributing, using or<br />
consulting on plant protection products) must be accredited before 1 October<br />
2013. Accreditation will be awarded in the form of a certificate from an accredited<br />
certification body. Certification is based on the functions and missions of the<br />
teams, their level of skills and training, and the implementation of the company's<br />
plant protection activity. AFNOR Certification is a major player in this strategy.<br />
Renewed certification for property auditors. Certification was renewed<br />
after five years and represents a major event for AFNOR Certification's auditor<br />
customers, especially since public authorities have stepped up the level of skills<br />
required since 2007, including mandatory training for energy performance surveys.<br />
The EU Ecolabel celebrated its 20th birthday. Since 1992, the little<br />
flower logo has adorned packets of washing powder, paint pots, laptops,<br />
and more besides. No fewer than 26 product and service categories are<br />
concerned. 500 companies hold the label, which is issued in France exclusively<br />
by AFNOR Certification.<br />
Tourism professionals looking to satisfy the growing demand for socially responsible<br />
tourism are increasingly turning towards the green label, with 193 eco-labelled<br />
tourist accommodation providers (+ 47%) and 50 eco-labelled campsites (+ 72%).<br />
The EU Ecolabel is the only official green label that applies to all EU Member<br />
States. It is supported by France's Ministry for Sustainable Development and<br />
environmental agency ADEME.<br />
AFNOR Competencies<br />
Training and consulting<br />
Managing Director: Pascal Prévost<br />
340 training products<br />
11,000 trainees<br />
2 training centres: Paris and Lyon<br />
98.6% satisfaction rate<br />
32 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
33
AFNOR Competencies<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
Subsidiaries’ AFNOR activities<br />
Competencies<br />
AFNOR Competencies weathered the economic storm by achieving growth in <strong>2012</strong>, although the training market did<br />
not emerge unscathed. Revenue increased by nearly 7%.<br />
AFNOR International<br />
One of the solutions driving growth in <strong>2012</strong> was the range of support services<br />
for setting up accreditation according to the ISO 15189 standard<br />
in all (public and private) medical biology laboratories in France, which proved<br />
tremendously successful, including the "AFNOR Forum" conference, the release<br />
of the ISO 15189 e-learning scheme, and consulting and guidance missions.<br />
In terms of educational investments, AFNOR Competencies bolstered its<br />
policy of forging partnerships with institutes of higher education and universities,<br />
and now offers a diversified range of training courses leading to the following<br />
qualifications:<br />
Two BADGE diplomas (assessment of skills issued by institutes of higher<br />
education) on EHS risks (environment, health and safety) with higher education<br />
establishment École des Mines ParisTech.<br />
Two BADGE diplomas in corporate social responsibility with higher education<br />
establishment Sup de Co La Rochelle.<br />
1 BADGE diploma in industrial metrology with higher education establishment<br />
École des Mines de Douai.<br />
1 postgraduate diploma in measurement systems and metrology with École<br />
des Mines de Douai.<br />
1 postgraduate diploma in quality-oriented management with the Bordeaux<br />
management school.<br />
1 university diploma for quality auditors in medical biology with Paris<br />
Descartes University.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR Competencies also strengthened its "Superior customer<br />
satisfaction" policy.<br />
Actions are being ramped up in a number of areas, especially teaching, design,<br />
telephone call handling and leadership quality.<br />
These efforts have produced results, with increased customer satisfaction,<br />
recognised training delivery quality and superior programme quality.<br />
The complaints handling process has not been left in the sidelines, with a onestop<br />
shop for receiving and dealing with customer grievances.<br />
At the same time, extended enterprise AFNOR Competencies continued driving<br />
and building on its community of trainers, while reinforcing relations with<br />
its partners through a more frequent and structured communication strategy<br />
for reaching out to the dozens of facilitators empowered to run its training modules.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR Competencies took its internal organisational structure back to<br />
the drawing board in a move to power its development and particularly strengthened<br />
and restructured its sales teams to deliver the best-fit solutions<br />
to its customers' needs.<br />
International certification,<br />
assessment and training<br />
11,200 certificates issued<br />
in <strong>2012</strong><br />
3,000 people enrolled in training<br />
around the world<br />
28 locations worldwide<br />
Director: Myriam Augereau-Landais<br />
Some of the tools developed in <strong>2012</strong><br />
West Africa, Algeria, Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, China,<br />
Korea, United States, France, Mauritius, India, Indonesia, Iran,<br />
Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Pakistan,<br />
Romania, United Kingdom, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia,<br />
Turkey, Vietnam<br />
34 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 35
AFNOR International<br />
Subsidiaries’ activities<br />
Representatives of the<br />
international network<br />
AFNOR UK celebrated its 20th birthday in <strong>2012</strong>: one of the first<br />
overseas subsidiaries that the AFNOR Group opened is AFNOR UK, which has<br />
gone on to carve itself a strong foothold in the British certification market by<br />
offering a broad range of services and developing its presence in the international<br />
arena. The subsidiary's first preferred sectors were electricity and the nuclear<br />
industry. AFNOR UK has since branched out into aviation and transport, technical<br />
distance learning for the energy industry and services certification. It currently<br />
performs 20% of its activities in Asia.<br />
The network presently shows no signs of letting up around<br />
the world, with over 300 employees, 28 locations, 5 certification bodies<br />
(France, Tunisia, United Kingdom, Germany and Taiwan) and 7 training centres,<br />
with leadership status in the certification sector in West Africa, Tunisia and Taiwan.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, training underwent major growth, representing over 13% of the<br />
Group's international activities.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR International decided to step up its presence in the Middle<br />
East (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait,<br />
and so on) and therefore created AFNOR Middle East, which used to be a<br />
Lebanese agency.<br />
Our German subsidiary GUTcert, the leading certification services provider in<br />
the environmental and energy sectors, achieved Dakks accreditation for<br />
ISO 50001 – energy management systems. Ninety 50001 certificates were<br />
issued in <strong>2012</strong>, including for ArcelorMittal in Germany. DAkkS accreditation<br />
enabled the Russian and British subsidiaries to certify Schneider Electric in the UK<br />
and Inter Rao (second largest electricity group) in Russia.<br />
Railway certification also proved to be a fast-expanding sector<br />
through the IRIS (International Railway Industry Standard), an international<br />
standard inspired by ISO 9001 and featuring a set of requirements specific to<br />
the railway industry. In China, for example, twice as many IRIS certificates were<br />
issued in <strong>2012</strong> as in 2011. Russia, with its strong network of resources, has also<br />
experienced strong development in this area.<br />
Another sector to hit the fast lane in China is the motor industry, based on<br />
the ISO/TS 16949 specification for quality management systems,<br />
which describes the particular requirements for the application of quality<br />
(ISO 9001:2008) for automotive production and relevant service part organisations.<br />
The international network is highly active in standards governing quality,<br />
environmental and sustainable development management systems, and delivers<br />
certification services to many overseas subsidiaries of major French groups,<br />
such as AFNOR Maroc which provided ISO 9001 certification to<br />
TOTAL Maroc for its "lubricants" activity.<br />
Relations are also forged with France when foreign companies discover the<br />
country's best practices. For instance, in October <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR Russia<br />
accompanied by a Russian delegation featuring Russia's largest bank, the<br />
University of Mordovia, a gas company from Kazakhstan and a construction firm,<br />
encountered a number of businesses in the Gironde region, such as Cofely, Saft,<br />
Chateau la Rose Trintaudon, La Poste and Véolia, all of which have achieved<br />
certification in sustainable development, social responsibility and innovation.<br />
In terms of accreditation, three accreditation bodies and subsidiaries in<br />
Tunisia, the United Kingdom and Taiwan successfully upgraded<br />
to version 2011 of ISO 17021-2011<br />
accreditation, a standard that defines new<br />
requirements for bodies providing audit and<br />
certification of management systems.<br />
Yacine Herireche,<br />
new Director of the Algerian subsidiary<br />
Life of the association<br />
Legal organisation as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR<br />
Registered not-for-profit organisation<br />
Coordination<br />
Finance Division, Human Resources Division, Legal<br />
Department, IT Department, Corporate Services<br />
Department<br />
100 %<br />
AFNOR Development (simplified limited company)<br />
Coordination<br />
Quality, Purchasing, Communication, Marketing,<br />
Skills & Expertise Management, Research & Development,<br />
Regional Offices (13 branches), International Network<br />
Standardisation<br />
Professional documentation and information services<br />
Institutional affairs & international cooperation<br />
Membership<br />
100 %<br />
100 %<br />
100 %<br />
AFNOR Certification (simplified limited company)<br />
Certification & Assessment<br />
AFNOR Competencies (simplified limited company)<br />
Training & Consulting<br />
AFNOR International (simplified limited company)<br />
International network<br />
36 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong><br />
37
Life of the association<br />
Life of the association<br />
AFNOR throughout France in <strong>2012</strong><br />
Montpellier, Marseille, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon, Nancy, Paris, Orléans,<br />
Rouen, Lille, Limoges, Bordeaux, Toulouse… the 13 regional delegations bear<br />
testament to the AFNOR Group's determination to push back the boundaries of<br />
its core businesses and professional experience in order to assert itself as a fullyfledged<br />
socio-economic player.<br />
Drawing on their insight into the challenges facing their respective regions,<br />
AFNOR's teams are particularly responsible for responding to collective needs<br />
by supporting companies and local authorities with their projects<br />
through standards-based solutions. 220 introductory workshops were<br />
held to alert private and public organisations (nearly 8,000 participants in <strong>2012</strong>) to<br />
the main challenges in their regions using the same approach every time, namely<br />
by taking an objective look at a topical issue relating to their sector of business<br />
during a select meeting in order to share practices and, as a bonus, shed light on<br />
the feedback received from other local players.<br />
Leaving no stone unturned, AFNOR's teams also lent their support to companies<br />
when trialling standards. Regional authorities, government agencies DIRECCTE,<br />
DREAL and ADEME, consular networks, business clusters, CARSAT and many other<br />
central economic players pledged their support and skills to fuel groundbreaking<br />
collective initiatives and thereby allow companies to sharpen their strategies and<br />
practices accordingly.<br />
In the environmental labelling sector, 31 furnishings, textiles and<br />
footwear companies in the Alsace and Lorraine regions shared their feedback<br />
with best practice guides created by professionals for professionals. In the Rhône-<br />
Alpes region, 25 companies with a mature health, safety, environmental<br />
and labour relations policy began sharing their practices with other<br />
companies looking to achieve progress.<br />
In an effort to achieve a competitive advantage, 10 Burgundy-based timber<br />
companies trialled the Lean approach to raise the bar on their organisational<br />
and economic performance. The food & drink sector in Aquitaine also tried out a<br />
Responsible Lean approach promoting superior working conditions.<br />
Companies are increasingly adopting the ISO 26000 standard and giving greater<br />
structure to their social responsibility strategies. 20 SMEs in the Rhône-<br />
Alpes region have taken the plunge. The Centre region has also seen two<br />
similar trials - one featuring 15 companies from every sector of activity, and the<br />
other comprising 10 food & drink manufacturers. In Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées,<br />
the regional ISO 26000 fora attracted around 30 participants. Responsible<br />
purchasing is attracting ever greater interest, such as in Rhône-Alpes, where five<br />
businesses have launched an initiative to bring their supplier risks under control.<br />
Ahead of talks on the concept of energy transition, 12 companies in Normandy<br />
have pushed the envelope by brainstorming a methodological approach to energy<br />
management in line with ISO 50001. In the Midi-Pyrénées region, the mechanical<br />
engineering sector has sprung into action, where 20 SMEs will be shown how to<br />
implement an energy management system<br />
AFNOR Purchasing Solutions<br />
The AFNOR Group offers a multitude of services<br />
to meet the ever growing needs voiced by the<br />
"buyers" community. Standards<br />
represent a special tool for assessing<br />
or identifying products and services<br />
that meet those requirements.<br />
Certification services for quality and<br />
environmental management systems<br />
are increasingly in demand. Audit and<br />
assessment services can help foster<br />
secure relations with suppliers and<br />
improve the quality of the purchasing<br />
process (second-party audits, process<br />
validation, ethical and environmental<br />
criteria, and so on). Furthermore,<br />
purchasing can play a special role<br />
in developing the company's social<br />
responsibility strategies, especially<br />
through its power to influence<br />
suppliers. To give its solutions<br />
greater clarity and a higher<br />
profile, AFNOR has gone<br />
for an AFNOR Purchasing<br />
Solutions banner.<br />
In December <strong>2012</strong>, the Achat Concept Eco<br />
company became a wholly-owned AFNOR<br />
subsidiary. During the financial year,<br />
it considerably upgraded its tools, including<br />
ACESIA, its supplier CSR assessment<br />
platform, which presently covers over 130<br />
purchasing families. The investments made<br />
in <strong>2012</strong> allowed the platform to be used for<br />
other purposes, such as staging the PACA<br />
CSR Awards by the Regional Council and<br />
the Economic and Social Council, the EnVol<br />
label by AFNOR Certification… In addition to<br />
its tools, Achat Concept Eco delivers a highly<br />
operational range of training services. These<br />
practical programmes feature a series of<br />
case studies tailored to the different types of<br />
purchasing, which are currently incorporated<br />
into AFNOR Competencies' training courses.<br />
Some EFQM winners<br />
EFQM for promoting managerial excellence<br />
AFNOR is EFQM's official representative in France. The EFQM excellence model<br />
for quality management has already been adopted by 30,000 companies in<br />
Europe. In March <strong>2012</strong>, AFNOR awarded 33 French companies for<br />
achieving excellence. The EFQM approach was also given centre stage at<br />
the 20th French Quality Awards ceremony. This annual event is held under the<br />
auspices of the Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industry, and serves to<br />
reward and promote any organisation aiming to achieve superior performance<br />
through an EFQM-inspired quality strategy.<br />
Partnership with Generali<br />
On Wednesday, 27 June <strong>2012</strong>, Olivier Peyrat and Thomas Saunier, CEO of<br />
Generali, signed a cooperation agreement binding their companies<br />
to promote management systems standards and certification<br />
as an effective tool for preventing risks. The agreement will also help<br />
companies receiving support from Generali for their CSR approach to incorporate<br />
ISO 26000 (promotion of corporate social responsibility) and ISO 31000 (risk<br />
management) into their business strategy and corporate governance.<br />
"This partnership reflects our ambition of giving our policyholders the most<br />
sophisticated tools in terms of corporate social responsibility and risk prevention,"<br />
explained Thomas Saunier, CEO of Generali.<br />
The AFNOR Group, a major player in the public<br />
services sector, launches a survey into visitor<br />
reception quality in town halls<br />
User relations quality is a major issue and starts with reception - the visible face of<br />
municipal public services. In <strong>2012</strong>, the AFNOR Group produced an initial review<br />
of visitor reception and service quality in French cities with over 10,000 inhabitants.<br />
Mystery citizens tried out local government services in over 80 voluntary cities,<br />
including greeting on the telephone and in person, office accessibility and<br />
cleanliness, attention and availability of employees, handling of complaints, ease<br />
of administrative formalities… mainly focusing on reception and the registry office.<br />
With their consent, the highest-scoring cities received the AFNOR Award for<br />
Reception & User Relations Quality during the inaugural National Meets<br />
organised on the topic by Idéal Connaissances in June <strong>2012</strong> in Nantes.<br />
Driven by the scheme's initial success and spurred on by the first cities taking<br />
part, the AFNOR Group will be repeating the survey and is currently inviting cities<br />
with over 5,000 inhabitants and municipal associations to take part.<br />
Standards and teaching<br />
Standardisation and certification are just some of the concepts that are sometimes<br />
unfamiliar to students.<br />
Agreements have been brokered to develop education on standardisation,<br />
standards and certification and thereby broaden students' skills and improve<br />
their employability, such as with Strasbourg Management School, Bordeaux<br />
BEM Business School, École Nationale des Ingénieurs de Metz, ESC de Rennes,<br />
ESC de Toulouse, ENS Cachan, Lyon International School of Business and<br />
Development, and IAE La Réunion.<br />
These actions are in line with the dynamic strategy launched in 2008 aimed<br />
at creating partnerships with the Ministry of Education (3,000 establishments<br />
concerned), the Assembly of Technical Institute Directors (115 institutes concerned)<br />
and the Conference of Higher Education Establishments (230 establishments<br />
concerned). Education on standardisation has grown strongly ever since, thanks<br />
to the creation of a network featuring close to 1,500 duly trained teachers with<br />
access to a range of teaching aids on the www.enseignants.afnor.org website<br />
(4,300 registered users to date). Close to 400 establishments also have<br />
access to French and international standards at preferential<br />
prices via the SagaWeb Education service.<br />
38 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 39
Life of the association<br />
Life of the association<br />
Third edition of the Or Normes ceremony<br />
Class of <strong>2012</strong><br />
On 20 June at the Petit Palais following AFNOR's general meeting, 11 key figures<br />
joined the "Or Normes" community. Every year, this ceremony pays tribute to<br />
people that have dedicated their time, energy and influence to AFNOR in a bid to<br />
develop standards-based solutions.<br />
The "Organisational Performance" Chair with Paris<br />
Dauphine University.<br />
The Chair was launched in March <strong>2012</strong> and features 12 researchers and 5 PhD /<br />
postgraduate students working to measure how management systems (ISO 9001,<br />
ISO 14001…) affect company operations and performance.<br />
On 25 June, the Chair staged its first "international workshop" at Paris Dauphine<br />
University and was attended by such key figures as Charles Corbet and Magali<br />
Delmas from the University of California (UCLA), Nicole Danall from the University<br />
of Arizona (ASU) and Michael Toffel from Harvard Business School.<br />
The first international academic papers have been published.<br />
In September <strong>2012</strong>, the first research paper was published on ISO 9001 and<br />
innovation, which concerns the research project "From quality to innovation:<br />
evidence from a French employer survey", by Dr Sanja Pekovic. This empirical<br />
analysis of French corporate data highlighted the fact that implementing an ISO<br />
9001-based quality approach creates a breeding ground for innovation.<br />
A second paper was published in December <strong>2012</strong>. The study pioneered by Magali<br />
Delmas, an environmental economist at the UCLA Institute of the Environment and<br />
Sustainability, and Sanja Pekovic, a researcher associated with the Chair, focused<br />
on a sample group of 4,929 French company employees. The study revealed<br />
that employees working in companies adopting environmental<br />
standards, such as ISO 14001, are 16% more productive than<br />
the average.<br />
External communication<br />
Standards continue to be a relevant topic in the press. Whether specialised press<br />
or online media, the topics that filled the most newspaper columns in <strong>2012</strong> were<br />
the draft standard on consumer reviews, the standard on responsible purchasing,<br />
the standard on green engineering and ecolabels. 46% of interview requests<br />
concerned standardisation.<br />
The AFNOR portal with its 100,000 monthly visits represents an important<br />
news source. 25 news articles were covered every month in <strong>2012</strong>, 35% of which<br />
on standardisation.<br />
Viadeo, Twitter, Qualiléo… AFNOR has been present on social networking<br />
sites for over two years. This new dynamic form of communication allows the<br />
Group to reach out to people who are unaware of its activities and respond to<br />
critical parties.<br />
Olivier Peyrat and Laurent Batsch,<br />
Vice-Chancellor of Paris Dauphine<br />
University, inaugurate the<br />
Organisational Performance Chair.<br />
IT infrastructures<br />
AFNOR's information system is consistently designed to provide simplicity to end<br />
users and generate ever more added value to the service proposed. Standards<br />
in HTML format, customised and bespoke collections of standards, user-defined<br />
selections of standards and regulations on a specific subject… just some of the<br />
technological innovations for ensuring easy access to standards and other legal<br />
documents. AFNOR's Information Systems Department also goes to great lengths<br />
to ensure that all IT tools created are compatible with its national and international<br />
partners (electronic committees). In <strong>2012</strong>, the back-office projects initiated in<br />
2010/2011 culminated in the launch of the new certification management<br />
tool and the new accounting and financial management system,<br />
the latter of which has helped improve the internal control process, especially in<br />
the purchasing field with a corresponding organisation for dealing with expenses.<br />
Management of external skills<br />
and expertise<br />
1,575 auditors, including<br />
• 695 abroad<br />
• 200 trainers<br />
• 369 authors<br />
played a key role in AFNOR's activity in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
The community of auditors continues to grow and<br />
strengthen:<br />
• +2% in France<br />
• +5% abroad<br />
AFNOR offers an increasingly wide range of skills<br />
in response to the constantly changing face of the<br />
market. At the time of going to press, 34,500 skills<br />
are available (+14%), all of which validated by<br />
certification experts and managed within the Group's<br />
Expertise & External Competences Management<br />
Department (DGECE).<br />
Quality policy<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, the Group updated its new quality policy. Since the quality<br />
approaches in the Group are at different levels of maturity - with some entities<br />
going as far as external recognition of their management system, such as<br />
ISO 9001 certification for standardisation, EFQM for training, without forgetting<br />
accreditation for certification - senior management was keen to inject a higher<br />
level of consistency and define a common set of major goals:<br />
Adopt a concerted approach towards the customer.<br />
Pursue the process-driven approaches while incorporating risk control and the<br />
quest for effectiveness.<br />
Improve customer and partner intimacy, while sensing and satisfying<br />
their needs.<br />
Drive our continual improvement strategy.<br />
Risk control represents a key component of the Group's policy and serves as a<br />
way of anticipating version 2015 of ISO 9001, which will take account of risks<br />
and risk management. Customer focus has again been prioritised, with<br />
satisfaction standing as one of the challenges. Since 2010, the Group's<br />
four core businesses have been measuring customer recommendations with the<br />
MPC indicator, which delivers an insight into our customers' loyalty. This indicator<br />
has been incorporated into the objectives within the Group quality policy. The<br />
MPC indicator is associated with the customer satisfaction metric and provides<br />
essential information for differentiation and improvement. Furthermore, the Group<br />
has ramped up its process for analysing complaints, and this criterion is now one<br />
of the management indicators used by senior management.<br />
All the quality functional areas are rallying to the Group's Quality Organisation<br />
Department in organising the policy's deployment. Everyone will be able to<br />
define or review their processes and indicators to reflect the specific nature of<br />
their business. The defined principles also apply to the enterprise-wide functions,<br />
which act as true service providers.<br />
40 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 41
Changes within the Executive Committee<br />
Executive Committee as at 31 December <strong>2012</strong><br />
After seven years at the helm of AFNOR International, Florence Nicolas<br />
expressed her wish in April <strong>2012</strong> to refocus on her corporate role<br />
within AFNOR and therefore decided to resign from her position as<br />
Managing Director of AFNOR International. Responsibility for AFNOR<br />
International, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AFNOR Development which<br />
holds equity shares in the AFNOR Group's international subsidiaries,<br />
has been entrusted to Myriam Augereau-Landais.<br />
In March 2013, Myriam Augereau-Landais joined the Executive<br />
Committee to reflect the growing economic importance of the Group's<br />
international activities, which need to be driven in synergy with the<br />
Group's other entities.<br />
Myriam Augereau-Landais<br />
Oliver Peyrat,<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Sophie Marain,<br />
Secretary-General<br />
Vincent Gillet, Alain Costes, Isabelle Rimbert, Isabelle Sitbon,<br />
Deputy Secretary-General Director of AFNOR Standardisation Deputy Director of Director of AFNOR Publishing<br />
AFNOR Standardisation<br />
Myriam Augereau-Landais has built her<br />
career upon international relations.<br />
For over 10 years, she has been helping<br />
French SMEs export and develop in<br />
overseas markets, particularly Asia.<br />
She honed her skills at Ubifrance,<br />
the agency for international business<br />
development, as international department<br />
head and subsequently assistant marketing<br />
and sales manager.<br />
Pascal Prévost,<br />
Managing Director of AFNOR Competencies<br />
Florence Méaux,<br />
Managing Director of AFNOR Certification<br />
Philippe Rabut,<br />
Deputy Managing Director of<br />
AFNOR Certification<br />
Laurence Breton-Kueny,<br />
Chief Human Resources Officer<br />
Jean Philippe Suzanna,<br />
Chief Financial Officer<br />
She joined AFNOR in 2006 as international<br />
network manager. She quickly generated<br />
growth for the Group's certification<br />
and training activities abroad, including<br />
deployment of the business development<br />
teams, a larger number of international<br />
offices and, as an added bonus, results in<br />
recovery. In April <strong>2012</strong>, Myriam Augereau-<br />
Landais took over as Managing Director of<br />
AFNOR International.<br />
42 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 43
Income statements<br />
Responsible and sustainable<br />
AFNOR Association Income Statement<br />
INCOME STATEMENT (in thousands of euros) 31/12/12 31/12/11<br />
Operating income<br />
Sales 25 651 24 954<br />
Services 29 319 30 668<br />
Contributions 2 778 2 859<br />
Revenue 57 748 58 481<br />
Capitalised production costs 4 245 4 096<br />
Operating subsidies 9 578 11 535<br />
Write-back on provisions and other revenue 2 048 2 048<br />
TOTAL I 73 619 76 160<br />
Operating expenses<br />
Purchases and external services 25 415 26 357<br />
Taxes and similar duties 3 228 2 883<br />
Payroll and social contributions 32 017 31 368<br />
Depreciation and impairment losses 8 784 8 688<br />
Other expenses 5 124 5 532<br />
TOTAL II 74 568 74 828<br />
1. Operating result (I-II) -949 1 332<br />
2. Financial result 1 144 870<br />
3. Pre-tax operating result (1+2) 195 2 202<br />
4. Extraordinary profit or loss 17 -1 357<br />
TOTAL REVENUE 75 847 77 828<br />
TOTAL EXPENSES 75 637 76 984<br />
Pre-tax result (3+4) 210 844<br />
Corporate income tax and employee profit sharing 125 682<br />
NET INCOME 85 162<br />
AFNOR Group (consolidated accounts)<br />
INCOME STATEMENT (in thousands of euros) 31/12/12 31/12/11<br />
Operating income<br />
Sales 25 448 24 811<br />
Services 106 189 102 185<br />
Contributions 2 778 2 859<br />
Revenue 134 415 129 855<br />
Capitalised production costs 4 245 4 096<br />
Operating subsidies 9 578 11 535<br />
Write-back on provisions and other revenue 1 896 1 987<br />
TOTAL I 150 134 147 473<br />
Operating expenses<br />
Purchases and external services 61 947 61 413<br />
Taxes and similar duties 5 339 4 898<br />
Payroll and social contributions 66 820 63 572<br />
Depreciation and impairment losses 9 869 9 840<br />
Other expenses 6 121 6 084<br />
TOTAL II 150 096 145 807<br />
1. Operating result (I-II) 38 1 666<br />
2. Financial result 1 499 1 366<br />
3. Pre-tax operating result (1+2) 1 537 3 022<br />
4. Extraordinary profit or loss 257 -1 233<br />
TOTAL REVENUE 153 316 150 128<br />
TOTAL EXPENSES 151 522 148 329<br />
Pre-tax result (3+4) 1 794 1 799<br />
Corporate income tax and employee profit sharing 1 356 1 179<br />
NET INCOME 438 620<br />
All data relate to employees working in France<br />
64.63%<br />
Breakdown<br />
Women<br />
34.96%<br />
Breakdown by age<br />
1.56%<br />
over 60<br />
1,200 employees, including 300 abroad<br />
35.37%<br />
Men<br />
17.53 %<br />
under 30<br />
46-60<br />
45.95%<br />
30-45<br />
Breakdown by category<br />
53%<br />
Executives<br />
38.50%<br />
Employees<br />
8.5%<br />
Management level<br />
Breakdown by SENIORITY<br />
35.68%<br />
less than 5 years<br />
33.61%<br />
between 5 and 15 years<br />
30.71%<br />
over 15 years<br />
The AFNOR Group firmly believes in abiding<br />
by the same rules of socially-responsible<br />
conduct as those that it recommends<br />
in its different relations, whether social,<br />
economic or environmental. The sustainable<br />
development policy launched in 2009 outlines<br />
the improvement strategies that the Group<br />
has decided to adopt in response to three<br />
fundamental challenges:<br />
Contribute to the quality of professional life<br />
Strengthen the Group's regional presence<br />
Take action to protect the environment<br />
44 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 45
Responsible and sustainable<br />
Responsible and sustainable<br />
Contribute to the quality of professional life<br />
Strengthen regional presence<br />
Management practices<br />
Workshops with managers<br />
Every year, workshops are organised to train managers on the latest HR policies,<br />
best practices, agreements signed and social news. On average, half of all<br />
managers attend the workshops, which are designed to improve their skills on<br />
new subjects and share feedback.<br />
Employee feedback survey<br />
A number of actions were implemented in <strong>2012</strong> in response to the improvements<br />
that were requested in 2011 following the survey's publication. For instance,<br />
training courses were given to Executive Committee members, managers,<br />
executive assistants and departmental assistants. Assistants act as liaisons<br />
for the employees in the teams and provide support to management, so it was<br />
important for them to be trained in the same manner as employee representatives.<br />
Review of the health and wellness policy<br />
For the second year running, the AFNOR Group reviewed its health and<br />
wellness policy. The review examined what progress had been made on the<br />
four items covered by the health and wellness committee inspired since 2010<br />
by the Quebec standard "Prevention, promotion and organisational practices<br />
for health in the workplace": employee habits, work-personal life balance,<br />
work environment and management practices.<br />
Policy promoting the employment of disabled workers<br />
A second three-year agreement was signed with all trade unions on 18 April<br />
<strong>2012</strong>. The agreement was ratified by the Departmental Committee for Employment<br />
and Vocational Integration in September <strong>2012</strong>. The first agreement (2009 to 2011)<br />
helped increase the employment rate from 1.23% to 2.6% (company average<br />
in France).<br />
The second agreement factors in the Group's economic outlook (in terms of<br />
feasibility and constraints) and features the same objective as the first agreement,<br />
namely the recruitment of disabled people, and pursues the aim of developing<br />
the recognition and status of disabled workers in the Group. The initial actions<br />
implemented upon receiving official approval have focused on providing individual<br />
support in an effort to promote employability and recruitment by subscribing to a<br />
specialised recruitment site.<br />
Continuation of the "volunteer leave" agreement<br />
Since 2010, AFNOR has been working in partnership with Planète Urgence to<br />
fund three volunteer leaves a year. Missions in <strong>2012</strong> concerned:<br />
First-aid training for guides at a national park in Madagascar. Two skilled and<br />
qualified Group employees, including a Red Cross instructor, provided the training.<br />
Educational support on French reading and oral skills in Cameroonian schools.<br />
Work environment<br />
Occasional teleworking<br />
The results of the 15-month trial proved conclusive, with 187 employees registered<br />
on the portal and 91 instances of the arrangement being used. The positive<br />
results encouraged management to offer trade unions the prospect of renewing<br />
the arrangement for 10 days a year over a three-year period.<br />
Workplace Planning scheme<br />
The HR information system made available to the entire workforce in<br />
2011 gave employees and their managers a much easier way of tracking<br />
career development.<br />
In an effort to promote internal mobility, which represented 30% of permanent<br />
contract hires in <strong>2012</strong>, all employees can post their professional experience by<br />
filling in their "career path", which can instantly be seen by senior management,<br />
their direct managers and the Human Resources Division.<br />
The onboarding plans for new hires and promotions are now an integral part of<br />
the system, allowing users to keep regular tabs on the different stages in the plan<br />
and assess their integration.<br />
The number of annual appraisals carried out within the Group using the HR<br />
information system in <strong>2012</strong> was on the up, representing 69.55%.<br />
In <strong>2012</strong>, 80.38% of the workforce received training, i.e. 2,322 courses<br />
were attended, mainly concerning changes to the information systems developed<br />
within the Group (Qualiac/finance, purchasing - Oscar/certification software,<br />
and so on), business services and management.<br />
Revision of the master risk assessment (DUER)<br />
Work on revising the master risk assessment (DUER) began in 2011 and continued<br />
into <strong>2012</strong> with members of the OH&S Committee. To support the OH&S Committee<br />
in its advisory role to the Health Committee and its prerogatives in preventing<br />
psychosocial risks, a training course was designed and held in October <strong>2012</strong>. The<br />
aim is to give committee members a clear understanding of all the aspects<br />
relating to the challenge of preventing stress and leading actions to<br />
improve quality of life in the workplace. The work pioneered by the Health<br />
Committee, which includes two designated members from the OH&S Committee,<br />
will help identify new indicators for inclusion into the master risk assessment for<br />
tracking or detecting risks that could increase or cause stress, and for pinpointing<br />
and assessing initiatives to prevent stress and consequently minimise the number<br />
of stress factors.<br />
Recruitment <strong>2012</strong>.............................................................270<br />
under-25s............................................................................................... 13.33%<br />
over-45s......................................................................................................1.85%<br />
from Seine-Saint-Denis..........................................................................10%<br />
Inter-enterprise travel plan (PDIE)<br />
Access to the Plaine Saint-Denis business district is a major challenge for both<br />
local economic players and local authorities. Mobility is a vital element, not only for<br />
AFNOR's employees but also for its visitors – all 45,000 of them in <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Under the auspices of the Paris Seine-Saint-Denis Chamber of Commerce and<br />
Industry, and in partnership with the Plaine Commune community of towns,<br />
Plaine Commune Promotion and the Île-de-France regional health insurance fund,<br />
seven companies (including AFNOR) signed the charter on the inter-enterprise<br />
travel plan on 11 July <strong>2012</strong>. Each company signing the charter agrees to<br />
produce a travel plan for its own employees, and the results will be shared<br />
to assist a focus group with its survey on travel featuring a component on the<br />
prevention of road risks.<br />
Our Districts Have Got Talent<br />
AFNOR has been a partner to the NQT Association (Our Districts Have Got Talent)<br />
since its inception in 2005 and began sponsoring its activities in 2008. In <strong>2012</strong>,<br />
40 AFNOR employees (from head office and the regional offices) agreed to<br />
sponsor young postgraduates. Since the initiative started, 369 postgraduates<br />
have been sponsored by the Group's employees, and over 50% have found a job<br />
matching their skills.<br />
46 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> 47
Responsible and sustainable<br />
Take action to protect the environment<br />
Electricity use at head office<br />
4,300,512 kWh<br />
down 10.35% on 2011<br />
Gas use at head office<br />
74,568 m 3<br />
down 20.95% on 2011<br />
The Group's continued efforts at controlling air<br />
conditioning and heating produced significant<br />
results. In addition, the Group's policy of regularly<br />
replacing computers, office hardware, servers,<br />
and so on, ensures that employees have access to a<br />
modern, less energy-intensive IT infrastructure.<br />
Water use at head office<br />
6,406 m 3<br />
down 6.52% on 2011<br />
Increased vigilance and monitoring of any<br />
leaks continues to curb water use.<br />
Rainwater harvesting for sanitary<br />
facilities and watering<br />
276 m 3 up 57.6% on 2011<br />
Marketing and<br />
sales documents<br />
60.9 tons<br />
down 6.31% on 2011<br />
Electricity use in the<br />
13 regional delegations<br />
242,821 kWh<br />
up 10.96% on 2011<br />
Since regional offices are often leased or<br />
co-owned in an office building, AFNOR has very<br />
little control over their use of resources.<br />
Paper (EcoFolio)<br />
Paper for office use<br />
and photocopying<br />
33.6 tons<br />
down 32.8% on 2011<br />
Appropriately configured photocopiers (limitation, duplex<br />
printing, etc.), regular awareness-raising for employees and<br />
the publication of printer use statistics for each department<br />
are producing results.<br />
Updated carbon footprint<br />
for 2011<br />
Carbon footprint MTCDE (total)........................10,329.94<br />
stable compared to 2010<br />
Carbon footprint MTCDE<br />
(not including travel).........................................................2,843.04<br />
down 1.93%<br />
The efforts made at reducing the Group's carbon footprint,<br />
especially curbing energy use, are reflected in the figures.<br />
However, instead of resting on its laurels, the Group must<br />
continue spearheading a series of underlying actions to produce<br />
a real improvement in the years to come.<br />
Carbon footprint MTCDE (travel).............................7,486.90<br />
up 0.9%<br />
CO 2<br />
emissions relating to travel are up slightly. This trend<br />
can be attributed to the Group's high levels of international<br />
development and involvement in a larger number of missions<br />
overseas (audits, training, consulting, etc.) through its experts.<br />
Nevertheless, the trend is under control thanks to a travel policy<br />
that encourages train travel.<br />
AFNOR Group's regional presence<br />
Alsace - Lorraine - Burgundy Delegation<br />
14, rue du Saulnois - 54520 Laxou<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 3 83 86 52 92<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 54<br />
delegation.nancy@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Pascal Thomas<br />
Aquitaine Delegation<br />
2, Impasse Rudolf Diésel - 33700 Mérignac<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 5 57 29 14 33<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 47<br />
delegation.bordeaux@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Stéphane Mathieu<br />
Brittany Delegation<br />
1, rue des Cormiers - Parc d’activités d’Apigné<br />
CS 95101 - 35651 Le Rheu Cedex<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 2 99 14 67 71<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 52<br />
delegation.rennes@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Claude Girard<br />
Centre Delegation<br />
La Maison des entreprises<br />
14, boulevard Rocheplatte - 45000 Orléans<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 2 38 78 19 61<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 45<br />
delegation.orleans@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Christian Le Diouron<br />
Île-de-France<br />
Champagne-Ardenne Delegation<br />
11, rue Francis de Pressensé<br />
93571 La Plaine Saint-Denis Cedex<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 1 41 62 80 05<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 90 00<br />
region.iledefrance@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Christian Le Diouron<br />
Languedoc-Roussillon Delegation<br />
Immeuble Les Latitudes Nord<br />
770, Av. Alfred Sauvy - 34470 Perols<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 4 99 52 24 00<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 53<br />
delegation.montpellier@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Christine Sorli<br />
Limousin - Poitou-Charentes Delegation<br />
ESTER Technopole - 1, avenue d’Ester<br />
87069 Limoges Cedex<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 5 55 04 12 66<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 87<br />
delegation.limoges@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Catherine Pauliat<br />
Midi-Pyrénées Delegation<br />
Immeuble Diapason, Bât. A<br />
Rue Jean Bart - BP 87484 - 31674 Labège Cedex<br />
Tél. : + 33 (0) 5 61 39 76 76<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 48<br />
delegation.toulouse@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Patrice Garcia<br />
Normandy Delegation<br />
4, rue Fontenelle - 76000 Rouen<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 2 32 76 07 48<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 76<br />
delegation.rouen@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Stéphane Jagu<br />
Nord - Pas de Calais - Picardie Delegation<br />
Château Rouge 282, avenue de la Marne<br />
59708 Marcq-en-Baroeul Cedex<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 3 20 82 59 00<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 91 06<br />
delegation.lille@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Valérie Ravez<br />
Pays-de-la-Loire Delegation<br />
1, rue Célestin Freinet Bât. A - Nord<br />
44200 Nantes<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 2 40 44 44 00<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 44<br />
delegation.nantes@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Thierry Cureau<br />
Provence - Alpes -<br />
Côte d’Azur - Corsica Delegation<br />
141, avenue du Prado, Bât. B<br />
13417 Marseille Cedex 08<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 4 96 19 13 00<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 12<br />
delegation.marseille@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Catherine Scherrer<br />
Rhône-Alpes - Auvergne -<br />
Franche-Comté Delegation<br />
Immeuble M + M177, rue Garibaldi 69428 Lyon<br />
Cedex 03<br />
Tel. : + 33 (0) 4 72 61 69 00<br />
Fax: + 33 (0) 1 49 17 93 69<br />
delegation.lyon@afnor.org<br />
Regional representative: Olivier Constant<br />
13<br />
delegations<br />
48 AFNOR Association <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong>
AFNOR Group abroad<br />
West Africa<br />
www.ao.afnor.org<br />
Algeria<br />
www.dz.afnor.org<br />
Germany<br />
www.gut-cert.de<br />
Bulgaria<br />
www.afnor.bg<br />
Canada<br />
international-network@afnor.org<br />
China<br />
www.afnor.cn<br />
www.asia.afnor.org<br />
Korea<br />
www.kr.afnor.org<br />
United States<br />
international-network@afnor.org<br />
India<br />
www.dqsindia.com<br />
Indonesia<br />
www.id.afnor.org<br />
Iran<br />
www.ir.afnor.org<br />
Italy<br />
www.afnor.it<br />
Japan<br />
www.jp.afnor.org<br />
Lebanon<br />
www.lb.afnor.org<br />
Malaysia<br />
www.afnor.com.my<br />
Morocco<br />
www.afnor.ma<br />
Mauritius<br />
www.afnor.mu<br />
Mexico<br />
international-network@afnor.org<br />
Pakistan<br />
www.afnor.com.pk<br />
Romania<br />
www.afnor.ro<br />
United Kingdom<br />
www.afnor.co.uk<br />
Russia<br />
www.afnor.ru<br />
Taiwan<br />
subsidiary: www.asia.afnor.org<br />
distributor: www.afnor.com.tw<br />
28 locations<br />
Thailand<br />
www.th.afnor.org<br />
Tunisia<br />
www.tn.afnor.org<br />
Turkey<br />
www.tr.afnor.org<br />
Vietnam<br />
www.afnor.com.vn<br />
AFNOR Group Communication. 2013/06 - S1306103-600020. Graphic design: GAYA.<br />
This brochure was printed using vegetable-based inks<br />
11 rue Francis de Pressensé - 93571 La Plaine Saint-Denis cedex - France<br />
Tel. : +33 (0)1 41 62 80 00 - Fax. : +33 (0)1 49 17 90 00<br />
This report is available at www.afnor.org or on request from: webmaster@afnor.org