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3rd Party Jargon Buster

3rd Party Jargon Buster
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3rd PARTY
The independent party that carries out an assessment or test of a product without bias or preferential treatment
(NGS BRM ’11)

3rd PARTY ACCREDITATION
If a manufacturer (1^st party) claims it’s product complies with a BS or an industry standard, the purchaser (2^nd party) has to trust them to be telling the truth or that they have tested the product themselves to prove it.
If the purchaser takes a sample away and tests it they can reassure themselves but it will cost the purchaser to do so.
If the manufacturer gets an independent testing house (3^rd party) to carry out tests on their behalf and lets the purchaser know the results, the purchaser is more likely to be happy to believe the results. In this situation the manufacturer is the first party, the purchaser is the second and the independent test house is the third party.
If the third party is a recognised and approved test house then their tests could lead to some form of certification or accreditation like BSI Kitemark SGS Yarsley’s Testguard or BBA Agrément Certificate etc.
(ASWS BRM ’97)