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Display quality cannot be assessed solely on the basis of the specifications provided in a datasheet. In industrial, medical, transportation, and automotive projects, equally important factors include the level of process control, the availability of quality documentation, compliance with environmental regulations, and the component’s ability to withstand the conditions in which the finished device will operate.
For device manufacturers, this means assessing not only the module itself but also the supplier – including its quality management system, its ability to provide reliable technical and quality documentation, and its approach to product validation. This is particularly important in long-term projects, where consistent quality is essential to minimizing implementation risk, maintaining production continuity, and ensuring reliable device operation.
In this article, we explain which documents, certificates, and tests to consider when selecting a display for an industrial application. This guide has been developed by Unisystem based on the questions we receive from our customers. We have brought the answers together in one place to make it easier for device manufacturers to assess component quality, compliance, and reliability as early as the project planning stage.
ISO 9001 – A Starting Point for Well-Structured Collaboration
One of the first aspects to consider when selecting a display supplier is whether it has an effective quality management system.
Unisystem has maintained ISO 9001 certification continuously since 2008. ISO 9001 is one of the most important and widely recognized quality standards, adopted by organizations seeking to manage their processes in a structured, consistent, and regularly controlled manner.
ISO 9001 certification confirms that our activities follow defined procedures and that key processes – from handling inquiries and orders, through sales and logistics, to managing documentation and product changes – are continuously monitored and subject to periodic internal and external audits. In practice, ISO 9001 is therefore more than a formal confirmation of compliance with the standard. It provides a framework for organizing day-to-day operations, ensuring process traceability, maintaining control over documentation, and delivering a consistent standard of customer service.
This is particularly important for device manufacturers, as cooperation with a display supplier does not end once a specific model has been selected. Long-term projects also depend on predictable processes, efficient communication, and up-to-date documentation.
CoC, CoA, and Inspection Reports – Documentation Supporting Quality Assurance
In many projects, a display datasheet alone is not sufficient. Customers may require additional documents confirming that the product complies with its specification, order requirements, or the standards applicable to a particular industry.
Upon request, we provide quality documentation that may include:
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC) – confirms that the product complies with a specified technical specification or order requirements,
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) – confirms the results of inspections, tests, or analyses of specific product parameters,
- quality control or inspection reports – describe the scope, procedure, and results of the product verification process.
This type of documentation is particularly important in industrial, medical, transportation, and automotive projects, where the display is part of a larger system, and its compliance with the specification must be confirmed for procurement, audits, supplier qualification, and validation of the finished device.
The scope and format of the documentation are agreed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the project requirements, industry, product type, and customer expectations.
RoHS and REACH – Environmental Compliance of Electronic Components
Material and environmental compliance is one of the fundamental criteria for qualifying electronic components for professional applications. This includes RoHS and REACH requirements, which must be considered by manufacturers placing devices on the European Union market. The displays offered by Unisystem comply with both RoHS and REACH requirements.
RoHS, or the Restriction of Hazardous Substances, restricts the use of specific hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. These include lead, mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and selected brominated compounds used as flame retardants. From a device manufacturer’s perspective, RoHS compliance confirms that the component can be used in electrical and electronic products covered by the directive.
REACH, or the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, governs chemicals used in materials and components. Its purpose is to control the impact of these substances on human health and the environment. In practice, this requires monitoring the presence of substances that are restricted or require particular attention throughout the supply chain.
For device manufacturers, compliance with RoHS and REACH is important not only when qualifying a component, but also when preparing technical documentation, conducting audits, certifying the finished product, and placing the device on the market. Where required, we provide the relevant declarations of compliance and support customers in compiling the documentation needed for a specific project.
IMDS, SCIP, and Material Declarations – When Is More Detailed Information Required?
In some projects, declarations of compliance with regulations such as RoHS and REACH may not be sufficient. This is particularly true where more detailed reporting, environmental or material requirements apply due to regulations, industry standards, or end-customer requirements. In such cases, more comprehensive data on product composition may be required, for example, for IMDS, SCIP, or other material declarations.
IMDS, or the International Material Data System, is a material composition reporting system used primarily in the automotive industry. It enables information about the materials and substances used in components to be shared throughout the supply chain. For manufacturers operating in the automotive sector, IMDS data is often required for part qualification, compliance with end-customer requirements, and documentation of the finished product’s material compliance.
SCIP, or Substances of Concern In articles, as such or in complex objects (Products), is a database containing information on articles that include substances of very high concern (SVHCs). If an article contains an SVHC at a concentration above 0.1% by weight, it may be necessary to provide the relevant information to recipients and submit data to the SCIP database. This requirement is not specific to a single industry, but results from regulations governing products placed on the European Union market.
In projects subject to regulatory compliance requirements, we support customers in compiling the necessary material and environmental documentation. This may include detailed composition declarations, information on the materials used, data required by the customer’s internal quality procedures, or documents needed for audit and qualification processes.
How Do We Measure Quality in Practice? The PPM Metric
One of the metrics used to monitor quality is PPM (Parts Per Million). It indicates the number of non-conforming parts per million components delivered and provides insight into the consistency of delivery quality over time.
PPM is particularly important in volume production projects, where even individual non-conformities can affect production schedules, complaint-handling costs, or the continuity of assembly at the device manufacturer’s facility. We therefore use this metric as one of the tools for assessing delivery quality, rather than treating it as an isolated statistical value.
Unisystem has systematically monitored its PPM rate since 2022. In previous years, it generally ranged between approximately 150 and 250 PPM, against an established quality target of 250 PPM. We treat these results as an important source of information on delivery consistency and as a basis for further improving our quality control processes, communication with suppliers, and analysis of the root causes of any non-conformities.
Environmental Testing – How Can You Verify Whether a Display Is Suitable for the Application?
A display used in a professional device may be exposed to temperature fluctuations, vibration, shock, impact, dust, water, or intensive operation. For this reason, the intended operating conditions of the finished device should be defined during the component selection stage, together with the tests required to confirm its resistance to external factors.
The scope of testing may include:
- temperature testing,
- vibration and shock testing,
- mechanical impact resistance testing in accordance with the required IK rating,
- ingress protection testing in accordance with the required IP rating,
- other validation tests specific to the application.
Not every project requires the same set of tests. The testing scope should always be tailored to the application requirements, operating environment, and method used to integrate the display into the device.
Some tests can be carried out directly at Unisystem, enabling initial verification of parameters, assessment of the component’s resistance, and confirmation that the proposed solution meets the project requirements. Tests requiring specialized procedures, a certified laboratory, or confirmation of compliance with a specific standard are conducted in cooperation with specialized testing facilities. In such cases, the scope, methodology, and reporting format are agreed individually based on the project and application requirements, as well as the documentation expected by the customer.
Quality Should Be Assessed Before Selecting a Component
Selecting a display for a professional project involves more than comparing diagonal size, resolution, brightness, and interface. Equally important are the supplier’s quality management system, the availability of documentation, compliance with environmental requirements, the ability to provide material declarations, and confirmation that the component can withstand actual operating conditions.
This approach reduces risk as early as the device design stage. It simplifies component qualification, supports procurement and quality assurance processes, and makes the transition to volume production more predictable.
At Unisystem, we combine display technology expertise with experience in projects that require extensive documentation, validation, and long-term supply stability. This allows us to support customers not only in selecting a specific display, but also in preparing a solution for the actual operating conditions of the intended application.
Looking for a Display for a Demanding Project?
If quality, compliance and reliability are critical to your application, discover how Unisystem supports display selection, documentation and validation for professional projects.
Contact us – we will recommend a solution that meets your project requirements and prepare it for real-world operating conditions. Technical challenges are what we do best 😊
