Şişecam and TSE Sign a Landmark Strategic Cooperation Agreement

Şişecam Group, one of Turkey's most established institutions, and the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), the national standardization and conformity assessment body, signed a protocol on strategic cooperation at a ceremony held in Istanbul.

TSE President Sebahittin Korkmaz said in his remarks at the ceremony that as an institution, they are taking an important step together with Şişecam Group to strengthen Turkey's quality infrastructure, increase information sharing among industrial enterprises, and develop technical cooperation. He stated: "Within the scope of this cooperation, Şişecam's active participation in standardization activities will mean that the requests and demands of Turkey's glass industry will be properly addressed in international standardization organizations." Şişecam Group Vice Chairman and General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman emphasized that with their comprehensive cooperation with TSE, which plays a key role in Turkish industry's international competitiveness, they are achieving a first, noting: "In the sectors where we operate, particularly glass, we are combining our efforts with TSE across a wide range of activities, from establishing standards to inspecting our production processes in 13 countries including Turkey.

As a Group that laid the foundation for Turkey's glass industry and has a voice on the world stage, we believe this strategic cooperation will drive all market players toward branding and standards-compliant production, further raising quality levels," he said.

26 September 2016 – A protocol on strategic cooperation between the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), the national standardization and conformity assessment body, and Şişecam Group, a global player in all fundamental areas of glass including flat glass, household glass products, glass packaging and glass fiber, as well as in soda and chromium compounds, was signed at a ceremony held at the Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus. TSE President Sebahittin Korkmaz stated in his remarks at the signing ceremony that they are taking an important step together with Şişecam Group to strengthen Turkey's quality infrastructure, increase information sharing among industrial enterprises, and develop technical cooperation. Korkmaz said: "For 62 years, our Institute has provided services in standardization and conformity assessment in our country. Our Institute is the key to enabling Turkish business to produce high-quality goods at lower costs, continue R&D activities, play an active role in the development of international standards, and provide products and services compliant with these standards. Until now, we have worked in close cooperation with our industrialists in the automotive sector above all, as well as in construction, chemistry, machinery, and many other sectors. I believe that tying these efforts to a roadmap, as we have done in the protocol we signed with Şişecam, is of great importance in terms of productivity and efficiency, and I invite other enterprises operating in our other sectors to cooperate with TSE," he said.

Glass industry demands will find proper response internationally

Korkmaz stated that standardization, which is TSE's primary function, is at the forefront of the cooperation activities they will carry out with Şişecam, and continued as follows: "TSE is the sole representative in our country of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). TSE has been a full member of ISO since 1955, IEC since 1956, and of CEN and CENELEC since 2012. Thanks to these memberships, TSE can participate through Mirror Committees in the Technical Committees, Subcommittees, and working groups established within these organizations for the purpose of carrying out standard preparation work. Turkish industrialists, academics, and all interested parties can participate in Mirror Committee activities and have the opportunity to shape standards in line with national interests while they are still in draft form. Within the scope of this cooperation, Şişecam's active participation in standardization activities will mean that the requests and demands of Turkey's glass industry will be properly addressed in international standardization organizations."

Within the scope of the protocol, in addition to standardization, Korkmaz noted that they will develop cooperation with Şişecam in conformity assessment, certification, inspection and surveillance, testing and calibration, identify common working areas, create work programs, and take steps to implement them. He added: "Another cooperation area of importance for our Institute is the organization of training programs. We aim to implement training programs in our areas of responsibility and in fields that the parties will mutually agree upon," he said. Şişecam Group will share 81 years of experience with TSE Şişecam Group Vice Chairman and General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kırman stated that with their comprehensive cooperation with TSE, which plays a key role in Turkish industry's international competitiveness, they are achieving a first. He noted that in the sectors where they operate, particularly glass, they are combining their efforts with TSE across a wide range of activities, from establishing standards to inspecting the Group's production processes in 13 countries including Turkey. Stating that within the scope of this cooperation, the two established institutions will work together in standardization, training, certification, inspection and surveillance, testing and calibration with the aim of further strengthening Turkey's quality infrastructure, Kırman said: "As Şişecam Group, this strategic cooperation that opens the way for us to share our 81 years of experience with TSE will also give us the opportunity to benefit from the expertise that TSE possesses. We will open all our laboratories, particularly the Şişecam Science and Technology Center in Gebze, for TSE's use. We will support TSE's standardization activities in the glass sector with the know-how we have in this industry. To encourage the use of standards in the sector, we will also organize various panels, seminars, and conferences together with TSE," he said.

The only way for companies to exist on a global scale

Emphasizing that standards, which serve as a bridge between producers and consumers and have become the common language of international trade, are now the only way for companies to exist on a global scale, Kırman said: "In today's challenging competitive environment, survival is only possible through the production of goods and services compliant with standards and of good quality. From the tea cup we drink from to the buildings we live in, from household appliances to food packaging and our automobiles, glass, with its transparency and sustainability, enters every area of our lives and is an indispensable material. The quality production of glass that contributes so much to our lives is therefore of great importance. Low-quality glass produced in a manner not compliant with standards brings with it many problems ranging from energy loss in buildings to accidents." Emphasizing that standards provide important benefits to both producers and consumers, particularly the country's economy, Kırman said: "Standards increase efficiency and quality in production. While reducing production losses, they lower costs. From a consumer perspective, they ensure health and property safety and improve quality of life. By preventing unfair competition, they ensure the provision of quality products at fair prices to consumers. From the perspective of the country's economy, standards ensure the efficient and effective use of resources. By directing industry toward certain goals, they promote quality development in production," he said.

Will bring about a comprehensive quality increase in production

Noting that Şişecam Group is the world's third-largest producer of household glass products, fourth-largest in glass packaging, and fifth-largest in flat glass, Kırman said: "As a global player, we view compliance with standards as a matter of critical importance. When establishing our ways of working in order to manage our environmental, social, and economic impacts, we base ourselves on nationally and internationally recognized standards. We place great importance on the strategic cooperation we will sign with TSE in this respect. As a Group that laid the foundation for Turkey's glass industry and has a voice on the world stage, through integrated standardization, we believe quality in the glass sector will rise even further. This cooperation, which will drive all market players toward branding and standards-compliant production, will also bring about a comprehensive increase in quality. We hope that this comprehensive cooperation we are undertaking with TSE will serve as an example for other sectors as well."

About Şişecam Group

Şişecam Group, among Turkey's most established institutions, is a global player in all fundamental areas of glass including flat glass, household glass products, glass packaging and glass fiber, as well as in soda and chromium compounds. Operating in four main business groups—"Flat Glass," "Household Glass Products," "Glass Packaging," and "Chemicals"—the Group produces not only in Turkey but also in Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian Federation, Georgia, Ukraine, Egypt, and India. Today, as the world's third-largest producer of household glass products, fourth-largest in glass packaging, and fifth-largest in flat glass, Şişecam Group is also Europe's fourth-largest and the world's tenth-largest soda producer, while being a world leader in chromium chemicals. With over 80 years of experience, more than 21,000 employees, production activities spanning 13 countries, and sales reaching 150 countries, Şişecam continues on its path as an internationally scaled Group with the goal of being among the world's three largest producers in its main areas of activity. www.sisecam.com.tr

About TSE

TSE began operations within TOBB in 1954 and was established by Law No. 132 issued on 18 November 1960 as a public institution affiliated with the Prime Ministry and governed according to private law provisions. Currently operating as the affiliated institution of the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology, the Institute is Turkey's sole national body responsible for preparing all types of standards and having them prepared. TSE is also Turkey's largest conformity assessment body. The Institute provides standardization, certification, inspection-surveillance, testing-calibration, and training services domestically through certification directorates in 19 provinces, representatives in 26 provinces, and personnel within chambers and exchanges in provinces without certification directorates or representatives, and internationally through representatives in 5 countries and 22 offices in 15 countries, for a total of 27 different office locations. TSE has over 100 specialized laboratories in 9 different provinces and 11 different locations with Turkey's broadest service profile and accreditation for 1,757 methods at national and international levels, equipped with the latest technology. The Institute directs its activities toward making its services available to a wider audience and becoming a "brand" valued, preferred, and trusted not only at the national level but also in international markets. In line with this policy, TSE's goals are to continue as a directive and leading organization in standardization activities and to increase its national and international market share in conformity assessment services. www.tse.org.tr