Anuario Brasileiro do Cobre | Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2020

Anuário Brasileiro do Cobre Brazilian Copper Yearbook 2020 27 Qualifio advances and presents new projects W hen safety criteria are not met, from product manufacturing to electrical installations in buildings, consumers may be exposed to risks. For this reason, Qualifio (Brazilian Association for the Quality of Electrical Wires and Cables and Similar) acts to ensure the quality of everything that is done by wires and electrical conductors companies. In his second term as head of the entity, Paulo César Iacono Negrão has continued the project of bringing information to consumers. According to him, Qualifio has been dedicated to creating a certification for products that should be approved by the entity, so as to give confidence about the quality of materials purchased bearing this recommendation. In this interview, the president of Qualifio comments on the new perspective of the sector and how consumers can be protagonists in favor of a safer environment. What progress has the entity made in this period and what is a priority? We have changed the focus of Qualifio a little. Previously, the entity was committed to taking samples from the market, making reports and sending to INMETRO for the institute to take appropriate action. However, we realized that in addition to this work, there is room for us to act more effectively allied with supervision. Therefore, we decided to start strengthening the Qualifio brand. By bringing information to the consumer market, it tends to take a proactive and conscious stance, purchasing products from our associates, as we will ensure access to a higher quality product. Our idea is to make the customer see the difference of a Qualifio product over one that is only INMETRO certified. We want to carry this message through social media and lectures at construction companies, for example. Howdoes Qualifio seeks tomonitor and solve the problem of nonconforming materials? We will not be able to solve the problem immediately. Qualifio has been in the market for 27 years and we always come across brands producing irregular material. Our idea is to continue monitoring the market, with our monthly objectives of sample purchase, testing and reporting to INMETRO.We want to make the consumer understand that certification alone, while of the utmost importance, does not mean that the material used is good. What we want is to give guarantees based on serious and strict quality standards. And how has Qualifio gone deep to ensure these standards to certify the quality of the industry? Our technical team follows a checklist of procedures and makes periodic visits to the industries that are associated with Qualifio. In addition, it also purchases and tests samples of materials randomly purchased from the market. We launched the Qualifio seal, an unprecedented action to certify the brand and the quality of the products of Qualifio members. Members may use the seal on their packaging. With this mechanism, consumers will be able to reassure themselves about the making of electrical conductors. This implies a commitment to follow certain process controls. And the rule is clear to everyone: if any of our associates do not follow the standards, they will lose the Qualifio Seal, with no possibility of regaining it. This means that the Entity launches the Qualifio Seal , an unprecedented action that will attest to the brand and quality of the entity’s associate products.