Title: European legal developments in product liability and product safety and the Total Quality Management approach

Authors: A. Brack, J.F.B. Gieskes

Addresses: University of Twente, School of Management Studies, P.O. BOX 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' University of Twente, School of Management Studies, P.O. BOX 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to show that Product Liability (PL) and Product Safety (PS) are relevant categories in terms of the Total Quality Management literature. From a societal point of view PL and PS are two sides of a coin. The effects of the PL and PS regulation on companies are described and linked to the TQM-concept. By presenting the highlights of literature the proposed managerial remedies in the field of PL and PS are reviewed. Risk Management is a useful tool to estimate the vulnerability of a company to PL. An example of a checklist that can be used to audit the actual corporate state of affairs on PL and PS is presented. An in-company multidisciplinary Task Force of Experts on Safety should be charged with a monitoring function with regard to PS and should develop and implement a PL prevention policy.

Keywords: European law; product liability; product safety; risk management; safety; total quality management; TQM.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1990.036622

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1990 Vol.5 No.4, pp.311 - 326

Published online: 05 Nov 2010 *

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