As an international Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) recruitment expert, we understand how vital the industry's services and solutions are for protecting people and the environment. Due to its importance, it is used by a wide variety of organisations across the global economy. Yet, despite its critical work, how much do you know about the industry? In this article, we will explore what exactly the TIC industry is, its global impact, its work in the battle against climate change, and what senior-level roles are available.
In
an ideal world, the products we buy will always be safe and reliable. Also, in
this perfect world, importers would be confident that the quality and quantity
of their cargo would align with what was specified in the contract.
Furthermore, we could use digital devices, assets, and services without
worrying about cyberattacks. But, unfortunately, this isn't the world we live
in.
Products
we buy don't always meet health and safety or quality standards, complicated
supply chains are open to errors and disputes over quality, and our digital
devices, assets and services are open to cyberattacks. These potential issues
are why the testing, inspection, and certification industry is vital to our
safety as a consumer, business, and workforce.
Testing,
inspection, and Certification or TIC, provide various services, which range
from auditing and inspection to testing, quality assurance, verifications, and
certification. Its purpose is to increase production
efficiency and reduce error by minimising risk. In addition, it provides
confidence that a product, system, process, or person meets specified and
required health, safety, security, and quality standards.
Interestingly, the concept of testing, inspection, and certification can be traced back to the 19th century and the emergence of the industrial revolution. Institutions emerged across Europe that specialised in carrying out inspections on equipment such as high-pressured steam boilers, which could be dangerous if not properly maintained. In addition, TIC organisations would conduct inspections on ships and shipping equipment and report any concerns.
Did you know that the testing, inspection, and certification industry is an enormous global market? In 2021, its global market value exceeded 300 billion USD and is projected to exceed 400 billion USD by 2030. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate of 4% during the forecasted period. The industry also employs approximately 1 million people in 160 countries.
For
regional markets, this is analysed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific,
and LAMEA. Here some of the key global figures which highlight the size of the
industry:
As we can see, the industry is making an impact worldwide and ensuring rules, regulations, and environmental commitments are abided by. Due to its power and influence, TIC can play a significant role in one of the biggest challenges the human race has ever faced, the fight against climate change. Next, we will explore its role in building a healthy and sustainable planet.
The environment and climate change are major worldwide topics. Rising seas, increased temperatures, and melting polar ice caps are just a few of the issues facing the human race. This month the world's political leaders are meeting for COP27, and the world sits in the hope that viable and practical solutions can be worked out to improve the climate emergency.
What
can the TIC industry do about climate change, you may be asking? Well, they
have a vital role, and by starting a career in TIC, you could play your
part.
In 2019, the TIC Council conducted an extensive risk mitigation survey on how industry leaders prepare for climate change's impact. A variety of C-suite executives from China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Sweden, the UK, and the USA, took part in the survey. The executives came from various industries, from agriculture and automotive to financial services. In June 2019, the results of the survey were announced at the global TIC summit in Brussels, and the key findings were:
The
last finding is of particular interest to the TIC industry. Many global
organisations feel that TIC has a significant role to play in assisting them in
their company's battle against the effects of climate change. But why are
TIC firms needed?
It is partly because the drive for change has come from the ground up, not from the top down. It is quickly changing consumer behaviours, such as reducing waste and plastics, to switch to electric cars, making the climate issue much more prominent.
In
addition, consumers want to see visible action from organisations that are
reducing their effects on the environment. As Elena Visnar Malinovska from the
European Commission reminded the audience in Brussels, ‘major innovations are
often social ones, not just technical ones.’
The
rapid changes in consumers' behaviour and the demands for action mean that
regulation is struggling to keep up. In the past,
organisations have just assumed that if they comply with local regulations and
ISO certifications, they will be carrying out their environmental risk duties.
However, regulations and certifications can take years to catch up with the
latest demands and developments, whether it be technological advancements or
the climate emergency. As a result, consumers are quickly losing patience with
slow regulation changes and organisations which are not acting fast enough to
reduce their environmental risks.
This is where the TIC industry comes into play. Using their experience and technical expertise, TIC firms can assist organisations in four key ways:
Nothing is more critical now than our planet's health and survival. A career in TIC means you can play your role in assisting organisations to reduce their carbon footprint and impact on the environment whilst at the same time improving consumer confidence and reputation.
Due to the importance of meeting consumer standards, health and safety regulations, and the pressure to reduce their effects on the environment, TIC firms work with many sectors across the economy. Below are examples of industries which use TIC services and the challenges these services can help overcome.
Offshore and onshore oil and gas production and storage facilities must be resilient and safe. Companies also must continue to invest and innovate new assets whilst replacing ageing facilities securely and cost-effectively. At the same time, companies must also ensure they meet strict regulations and consider their environmental impact.
Understandably, today's consumers want to know where their food comes from and if it meets the required standards. To ensure consumer confidence, companies within the food industry must demonstrate responsible practices, clear and full product traceability, and meet strict regulations designed, so food meets consumer expectations. Meeting these requirements is becoming increasingly complex with the rise of globalised supply chains.
Urban
populations worldwide are increasing, and this boom means that more buildings
and infrastructure need to be developed quickly. However, despite the urgency
needed to develop towns and cities, residents still expect safe, sustainable,
and healthy living conditions.
This
creates a challenge for developers and policymakers, who need to meet
regulations whilst meeting the needs of a growing urban population. For
developers and contractors, their challenge is to develop buildings and
infrastructure quickly whilst ensuring they meet health, safety, and
environmental standards.
The
clean and renewable energy sector is on the front line of the fight against
client change. Therefore, we must increase the availability of renewable energy
sources to help decrease carbon emissions. To achieve these environmental
goals, the clean and renewable energy industry must be confident that its
assets in critical sectors are safe, resilient, and sustainable. The industry's
challenge is rapidly developing innovative renewable energy projects whilst
ensuring they are safe, reliable, and sustainable.
Each of these industries is vital to our way of life in its unique way. However, for them to function to their full productivity safely and responsibly, the TIC industry is there to support and overcome their challenges.
As
we have seen, the TIC industry is crucial to the safety, quality, and
sustainability of an organisation's projects, assets, and services. Also, as we
have seen from its work with the clean and renewable energy industry, it plays
a vital role in the future of our planet. Starting a TIC career in a rewarding
and ever-growing industry is exciting. Here is a selection of vital
senior-level roles available within the TIC industry and many of the specialist
sectors we discussed earlier.
TIC
engineers are responsible for carrying out the testing, inspections, and
certification of an organisation's products, services, or assets and ensuring
they comply with relevant regulations. In addition, they generate reports on
review and test data and make corrections and recommendations based on the
findings.
They
should possess high-level communication skills as they must review projects and
provide feedback to the wider engineering team. Engineers will also be
experienced in working with certification agencies and data submittals, they
should possess exceptional organisational, multitasking, and prioritising
skills.
Sales
managers in the TIC industry are responsible for delivering an end-to-end sales
process focused on generating new and existing business within a particular
sector. As part of the role, they will work closely with the technical and
marketing teams to create a unique and tailored approach for each client. Their
sales activities include audits, training, certification, and finding
solutions.
Most
sales managers develop and implement agreed business plans, which meet personal
and business targets for growing the customer base in their area/region. Sales
Managers also work alongside the sales and support team to increase customer
satisfaction and revenue growth whilst always keeping an organisation's visions
and values in mind. This role is focused on high customer service, selling, and
product knowledge skills.
A sustainability expert is responsible for working with clients to help them improve their sustainability performance. They provide clients with a vital link between organisation and regulation. Importantly for businesses, their work can result in considerable cost savings. These experts will execute sustainability solutions and projects from developing to increasing output.
In
addition, they also will utilise and improve tools that evaluate a client's
sustainability efforts and assess the viability of their sustainable practices
and targets. In addition, they will work alongside technical and operational
departments to assess and review the project execution project. They also must
ensure that clients' sustainability projects and solutions are delivered on
time.
In our recent blog, TIC Jobs Taking over the Industry, we discuss top roles within the testing inspection and certification in more detail. Be sure to give it a read.
The ever-changing world of rules, regulations, and legislation, has meant that the TIC industry is continuing to grow, adapt, and develop. This growth has meant that the demand for high-skilled and knowledgeable senior-level talent is increasing to effectively and innovatively deal with these changes.
CSG
is a specialist TIC recruitment agency whose executive search team will use
their experience to locate and attract the best talent from the global
marketplace. We work with many companies, from smaller, family-owned businesses
to major international organisations, to help them attract the highest calibre
of senior talent. We specialise in executive management positions and have
considerable experience delivering commercial and sales roles with the TIC
industry.
If
you would explore our TIC recruitment expertise further, please visit our
specialist testing, inspection, and certification
page or contact one of our TIC
recruitment experts.
