Overview
Product Compliance is responsible for monitoring testing needs for all Advantus products. These needs can vary based on product type and division. Therefore, it is imperative that these standards be documented for each division to be compliant with testing requirements. The specifics as they pertain to Advantus North are outlined below.
Level 1: Customer Specific Testing
The Advantus North division has several customers that have testing program requirements outlined in their vendor agreement. When we elect to do business with these customers, we must ensure that we follow their outlined testing requirements. This could include setting up testing through their preferred lab, managing testing through their system, performing the tests they request, and testing based on their required frequency. The following link outlines current customers with Level 1 testing protocols. Any changes or additions to this list will be updated here and communicated to the division.
Level 2: Advantus Standard Testing
If the customer doesn’t have a required testing protocol in place, the item will fall into the standard Advantus testing protocols. This means:
- Division will notify Product Compliance when a new item is launched, a new factory is sourced, or new materials are used in an existing item.
- Product Compliance will set up any items identified from step 1 for annual testing.
- Once the item passes 2 consecutive tests, it will then be tested every 2 years. This testing does include Prop 65 testing for lead and phthalate.
Level 3: Divisional Requested Testing
Outside of customer required protocol testing and standard testing protocols, the division historically has requested the following additional testing.
Transit Testing
Testing must be requested by the division. The default will be ISTA3B which is the general simulation test used for Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipment. Please refer to the ISTA guidelines if a level other than 3B should be used.
https://ista.org/test_procedures.php#general-simulation-section
Additional Product Specific Required Protocols
These requirements apply to certain products based on things such as material contents, product type or usage (such as children’s items). The following chart outlines the current product required protocols established for these specific items. Any changes or additions to this list will be updated here and communicated to the division.
Note: This list is not division specific, but rather all inclusive. This information is provided in case a new item falls into one of these categories.