2024 Fundamentals Course
SEPTEMBER 11 – 13, 2024
Hosted by Mattel / Fisher-Price
Note: The 2024 Fundamentals course will be conducted on site at Fisher-Price’s East Aurora campus near Buffalo, NY. All program participants completing the course will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Society of Product Safety Professionals.
1. PROGRAM INTRODUCTION & HISTORY
The 2024 Fundamentals of Product Safety program (previously titled Product Safety Leadership Fundamentals) is in its 15th year of serving as an orientation program for those who are new in the product safety field, or those who are more experienced professionals interested in a refresher course and updating their understanding of new practices.
The programs that constitute the SPSP/ADK Product Safety Program Calendar for 2024 are recognized globally as a valuable, credentialed experience for product safety professionals and were designed to introduce participants to the 5 Pillars of Product Safety Knowledge which was introduced by SPSP in 2017 following the recommendations of a task force composed of product safety professionals and advisers. These pillars include: 1) company culture and ethics, 2) risk assessment and management, 3) regulatory compliance, 4) incident investigations and data management, and 5) the design and management of product recalls and returns. In 2012, these programs were recognized for their unique contribution to the product safety field with a Chairman’s Commendation from Inez Tenenbaum, then Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
2. PROGRAM DESIGN OVERVIEW
This program was designed to introduce participants to many of the critical concepts which make up the 5 Pillars of Product Safety Knowledge and will include interactive group exercises and discussions. Participants can expect to develop an understanding of the theory and techniques used in various areas of product safety management that may include:
• Building and maintaining a product safety program within a company
• Legal and regulatory requirements at the national and state levels.
• Risk assessment and management at the company and product level
• Pre-sale product design safety considerations
• Understanding the standards, testing, and certification requirements under current regulations
• Best practices for sourcing and manufacturing
• Designing and managing product incident investigations
• Product recall management and product retrieval
• Ethics in product safety management
3. PROGRAM STRUCTURE & COURSE CONTENT
The Fundamentals of Product Safety program is conducted over two and a half days on site at Fisher-Price in East Aurora, NY, with full day sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, September 11th and 12th. Friday, September 13th will be a half-day session in the morning with an option to tour the Bureau Veritas consumer product testing laboratories in nearby Buffalo, NY, during the afternoon. In addition, participants will be given a tour of the fabulous Fisher-Price toy museum.
The program curriculum is divided into pre-sale and post-sale product safety issues. It will provide a walk through the product safety process from product conception to recalls and returns. Topics covered will include organizational culture and ethics, risk assessment and hazard identification, product safety program design, legal and regulatory issues, the difference between compliance and safety, and more.. During the program, participants will engage in two different group exercises allowing them to work with others in their field to solve problems. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and network with attendees. A networking cocktail reception will be held the first evening to allow participants to get to know one another.
4. OUR FACULTY
This program is led by the most experienced and respected product safety professionals in the field. They are comprised of engineers, attorneys, university professors, laboratory directors, and former CPSC officials. Our instructors are dynamic and thought provoking, and willing to share their extensive experience to help others develop their skills in the field of product safety.
5. CONFIDENTIALITY
The program recognizes and respects the importance of confidentiality in a product safety environment. Participants are discouraged from sharing company confidential information. Instructors are asked to present instruction that does not violate confidences or confidential information. Individual attendee information is treated confidentially.
6. COURSE SURVEY
Following completion of the course, all graduates will be asked to participate in a course evaluation survey, which will provide an opportunity for individuals to think about their experience, and to speak to the program's strong points and identify areas for future improvement.
7. LOGISTICS
A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate at the Hampton Inn in East Aurora, NY, which is walking distance to the Fisher-Price campus. All participants are required to sign a confidentiality/non-disclosure agreement with Fisher-Price prior to commencement of the program. A continental breakfast will be provided each day. Lunch and afternoon snacks will be provided the first two days. All this is included in the program cost. Travel cost, including transportation, lodging, and dinners, are not included. There will be a hosted networking reception on the evening of Wednesday, September 11th. Interested participants can also sign up for a free tour of the Bureau Veritas consumer product testing labs in nearby Buffalo on the afternoon of Friday September 13th.
8. TUITION: Program tuition for the 2024 course is $1,900. A $150 “early bird” discount is offered to those who enroll before July 1, 2024. In addition, paid SPSP members are also eligible for a $150 discount. Tuition is non-refundable. Travel costs, including transportation, lodging, and dinners, are not included. The deadline for registration is August 31, 2024.
For more information contact info@productsafetyprofessionals.org or call 917-561-2906.
