Internal Production Control
Internal Production Control (often referred to as Module A) is the formal name for the "self-certification" route to CE compliance. It is the procedure whereby the manufacturer fulfills their legal obligations without the mandatory intervention of a Notified Body. For North American exporters, this is the most common path to the EU market, covering the vast majority of industrial equipment that does not fall under the High-Risk Machinery category.
Under this module, you are solely responsible for ensuring and declaring that your machinery satisfies the Machinery Directive (or Machinery Regulation). This involves rigorous internal checks: you must conduct a Risk Assessment, perform necessary testing (like earth continuity or noise checks), and compile a comprehensive Technical File.
Crucially, "internal" does not mean "informal." You must have a documented process to ensure that every unit coming off your assembly line matches the technical design and safety standards of the original prototype. Once these internal measures are verified, you finalize the process by signing the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and affixing the CE Mark.
