The Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry is modernizing how trust is delivered in an increasingly digital world. Against this backdrop, TIC Council – the global association representing the independent TIC sector – has published its Quality Infrastructure Framework for the Digitalised World.
As a member of TIC Council and a key contributor to the development of this paper, we helped shape the framework’s practical guidance on how emerging technologies can strengthen conformity assessment while preserving the principles that underpin public confidence.
As artificial intelligence (AI), connected devices and data-driven systems become embedded across industries, quality infrastructure must evolve. The framework explains how digital tools – including AI, IoT, remote techniques and data analytics – can enhance efficiency, precision and responsiveness, provided that essential guardrails remain in place: independence, impartiality, technical competence, confidentiality and transparency.
The paper makes clear that digitalization is not about lowering standards. It is about improving oversight in practice. Digital methods can enable better visibility, faster detection of non-conformities and more continuous assurance models – but only when supported by validated methodologies, auditable records and robust governance.
At the heart of the framework is the human-in-the-loop principle. While technology can assist and augment assessment activities, accountability for compliance decisions remains non-delegable and clearly assigned to accredited organizations and named decision-makers. Human oversight and human accountability act as safeguards, ensuring that professional judgement and responsibility cannot be replaced by automated outputs.
The publication provides practical guidance for accreditation bodies, policymakers and standards development organizations navigating hybrid digital–human models. It supports dialogue on how regulation and accreditation can recognize new conformity methods while maintaining auditability, traceability and legal defensibility.
By defining principle-based guardrails – including algorithm explainability, data integrity, transparency and secure data handling – the framework outlines how digital innovation can be integrated responsibly, without fragmenting standards or weakening trust.
In a world where digital systems underpin critical infrastructure, healthcare, mobility, consumer technologies and supply chains, trust remains foundational. The framework reinforces the role of accredited, independent TIC providers as the backbone of confidence in both physical and digital systems.
The Quality Infrastructure Framework for the Digitalised World represents a forward-looking contribution from the TIC industry – embracing innovation while safeguarding the integrity that makes third-party assurance credible.
Read the full paper to explore the framework and its recommendations.
SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of over 100,000 dedicated professionals. With more than 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, compliance and sustainability.
Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and a portfolio of trusted specialized brands, including Applied Technical Services, Brightsight, Bluesign and Nutrasource.
SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH1256740924, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN SW).
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