IGRS testing and accreditation standards gained ISO’s reorganization, and became the first standard in 3C-convergence field.
“IGRS testing and accreditation standards passed overwhelmingly ISOIECJTC1 standard draft voting. The meaning for IGRS equals to China successfully bid for the Olympic Games”
Last day of 2008, December 31, YANG Nan, Secretary General of China IGRS standard work team recalled in July 2008, when IGRS testing and accreditation standards were recognized by ISO, and became the first standard in 3C-convergence field passed by ISO, strong feelings were inspired in him. “We have went through many hardships to reach situation of today. There should be broader road for IGRS”
International 2008
Without question, 2008 is an international year for 2008. On July 28, 2008, IGRS testing and accreditation standards became international standard of ISOIEC equipment accreditation. Up to now, the standard fills the gap in ISO international standard in 3C industry. In October 2008, one more international standard proposal of China IGRS, IGRS Base Agreement Standard, passed officially ISO/IEC JTC1 SC25 FCD voting, and became FDIS. It symbols China IGRS standard system was fully accepted by ISO/IEC, and laid important foundation for China IGRS internationalization.
Although IGRS standard was recognized by ISO, this doesn’t mean IGRS standard will be adopted by all famous international enterprises. It’s reported that although IGRS testing and accreditation standards are currently the first standard passed by ISO in 3C- convergence field, there’s probability that other organization applies similar standard and gains reorganization. Moreover, the standard is recommendatory.
“However, it’s a good beginning, we have very good opportunity to gain enterprises’ reorganization,”YANG Nan represented that according to WTO routine, once international standard is made, every member country has obligation of priority. Although enforcement of standard in WTO clause is not obligatory, after all there is huge acceptance force.
In fact, IGRS standard and IGRS alliance is also meeting many kinds of challenges from the world. DLNA, that is former DHWG, initiated and established by seventeen international giants, Intel, Philip, IBM, Sony and Software, having more than one hundred and sixty members is the most influential international standard organization. UOPF organization, set up by fourteen Japanese enterprises, Sony, Panasonic, NEC, TOSHIBA, Mitsubishi and Hitachi, is very active in 3C standard field. Compared with these organizations, IGRS’s starting is a litter later, and work funds is not abundant.
YANG Nan said “After standard gained ISO’s reorganization, IGRS internationalization will be not only standard promotion of standard, but how to attract more Chinese and even global enterprises to jointly promote IGRS standard to be carried out is top priority in future work. We and other standard organization learn from each other. The market is so big and everyone has developing space.”
Therefore, IGRS has already adopted Collaboration. IGRS participated international show like CES, joined global next generation internet forum and conducted cooperation in many programs with CEPCA. In addition, IGRS actively builds joint team in Asian areas. In December, 2008, three Parties, IGRS standard team, Japan ECHONET, and Korea Home Network Forum held 2008 AHNC in Beijing. Representatives of three countries gave 2007 yearly report and notification on work progress and plan in every aspect of AHNC. At the meeting, China, Japan and Korea gave a full introduction for every country’s development situation from angles of standard technology, market development and policy background. Decision was made at the meeting that in 2009, the three organizations will hold digital home network technology and paper release activity and products show.
“Under framework of AHNC, through cooperation among organizations, interoperation and application development of three standards will be speeded up, making it be in a favorable position in future global, market competition. Moreover, China IGRS standard well be promoted to the world through cooperation with global technology standard organization.” YANG Nan showed great confidence in IGRS internationalization progress.
Location of technology plan supplier
2008 has been the sixth year since IGRS industry association was set up, and also the third year since IGRS was established. YANG Nan has dual identity as well. He is not only secretary general of IGRS standard work team, but also vice-general of IGRS.
According to YANG Nan’s representation, IGRS association and IGRS have sharply different division of labor. IGRS association is a joint body of many enterprises. His work includes standard making and amendment, patent construction (Licensing among manufacturers), standard testing and accreditation methods and dialog, cooperation and promotion among enterprises. IGRS’s operation is more like work guided by market policy done by an entity, set up by eight main shareholders, Lenovo, TCL, Skyworth, etc. whose functions include basic common infrastructure technology development, that is software development of platform tool, and testing and accreditation of standard conformity, standard market promotion and IGRS industrialization development. IGRS itself doesn’t have profit goal. However, currently, it has benefited from every kind of basic technology. Operation n 2008 is pretty good.
YANG Nan analyzes lively “We can’t give tough job to any association enterprise, so IGRS is established. The two bands represent different meaning and responsibility. Just with the model of walking on two legs, IGRS develops as today. Clear structure and operation model are formed among association, company, shareholders, and members, and success is made.”
Although major work funds of IGRS is still from main shareholders and association members of IGRS. However, in view of YANG Nan, location of technology plan supplier will be main survival method in future market. He said “There are more and more members to participated, and basic solution plan is needed, therefore, company profit space is bigger and bigger, and IGRS and IGRS association have more and more funds to promote standard, making standard be applied in products. This is a benign circulation. ”
For association operation, IGRS commits itself to create a perfect industry chain. It’s known that up to now, there are one hundred and twenty members, covering all phases from network content, network operation and terminals equipment manufacturer, achieving cooperation with terminals manufacturer, communication, chip design, especially with scientific research institute.
YANG Nan thinks location of technology plan supplier will lay a foundation for IGRS and IGRS association development. “We don’t expect very rapid growth in profit, the key point is to located accurately”. In view of foreign model, ten to fifteen years may be needed to achieve standard profit.
Market promotion is top priority
There is an obvious IGRS sign on YANG Nan’s laptop. He said to reporter that the sign is on many home appliances sold currently, like TV and computer. But most consumers don’t notice when they purchase them.
YANG Nan though “Currently, there are thousands of products with IGRS sign”sold in market. Although IGRS standard innovates technologically and gains relevant international organization reorganization, plenty of market education and promotion are needed if products conforming to IGRS standard are accepted by consumers. He said “There are at least three factors for technology and standard to be recognized in market, application and function that meet market demand, cost that accepted by consumer and enough products that manufacturers release”
As for these factors, YNAG Nan makes preliminary expect for IGRS market in 2009. First is to lead consumers, and cultivate consumers to experience new products, and make them know what IGRS technology. It’s reported that there are more than twenty experience store all over the country. The number will be increased in 2009. Second is to coordinate member enterprises to communicate with each other, encourage important manufacturers to conduct market promotion and home appliance to participate the promotion. In 2008, Lenovo and Skyworth made promotion, and SUNING actively joined. These are very good promotion model. Third is in 2008, IGRS started a pilot of IGRS community construction in Beijing and Qingdao. In 2009, IGRS will continue to commit itself to community construction, making more and more residents experience the convenient service brought by IGRS standard through experiential application. Furth is to conduct backup work of market promotion, standard making and products technology upgrade, for example, make technological solution plan of package and lower cost, making IGRS adopted by enterprises.
From brown goods to major appliance
Advocator of IGRS is Lenovo, TCL, KONKA, Hisense, and Great Wall, etc, which are main manufacturers producing computers, TV, or cell phone. Because of the factors, IGRS association has been marked with brown appliance. In 2006, the situation changed. Twelve Guangdong Shunde home appliance enterprises, including Midea, Galanz and Wanhe, joined IGRS association. Major home appliance is closer and closer to IGRS.
In 2008, General Intelligent Control standards made by Midea were brought GRS standard system, making up defect in lack of IGRS major appliance. It’s reported by journalist of Home Appliance, General Intelligent Control standards were general standard made to solve problems of interconnection, centralized control and convergence in appliance, intelligent household equipment, and security products that. Before this, national IGRS standard with main function of multi-media information resources convergence and share mainly covers brown goods field, IT, TV, DVD, and Baffle box. But the standard can’t be applied in control signal share of major appliance efficiently. General Intelligent Control standards complement with former IGRS standard system to make major appliance more intelligent, achieving full-scene interconnection on overall digital home field. It’s reported that the standard has recently been set up as a project and announced to public by Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China.
YANG Nan released after General Intelligent Control standards will be brought into IGRS standard, Midea and other enterprises will release major appliance that conforms to IGRS general intelligent control standard, making them interconnect with IGRS products, IT and brown appliance existed in the market.
When interview is over, YANG Nan emphasizes again IGRS needs currently mass industrialization promotion. “Our member enterprises cover 50% of major appliance market share, and 84.3% of TV market share. Market space is very big. No matter what is major appliance and brown appliance, it’s the most important to make good industrialization and marketization.”