Common Ground
Nashville hosts the first Aerosol Summit
The inaugural Aerosol Summit—themed Common Ground,
Promoting Growth—was held at the Sheraton Grand Nashville,
Nashville, TN on March 12–14. The two-day event was
packed with 14 presentations, an association presidents meeting,
CAPCO meeting and an aerosol manufacturing roundtable.
The Summit was co-hosted by the Eastern Aerosol Association
(EAA), the Midwest Aerosol Association (MAA), the National Aerosol
Association (NAA), the Southern Aerosol Technical Association
(SATA) and the Western Aerosol Information Bureau (WAIB).
Guest organizations included the British Aerosol Manufacturers
Association (BAMA), the American Coatings Association (ACA),
the Graffiti Resource Council (GRC), the Household & Commercial
Products Association (HCPA), the Alliance for Consumer
Education (ACE) and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
Frank Salek, KIK Custom Products, presented What a Company
wants out of an Association. On a commercial level, a company wants
networking opportunities (including a meeting place and balanced
time for social activities), more attendance
from executives and small, facilitated
group discussions on key topics. It also
wants a summary of key issues affecting the
industry, more information on what is happening
at the retail level, reports of trade
association successes and cooperation with
other associations.
On the technical/regulatory level, a
company wants a summary of issues facing
Salek
the industry and wants to know what the association is doing to
combat regulations that have a negative impact and/or will add
costs. Does an association have the skills and resources to engage
agencies? Does it listen to needs of members, provide support for
industry standards and support new technology?
On the manufacturing level, a company wants to know how
the association is spreading a positive message about aerosols
and wants a summary of potential effects of regulatory rulings or
upcoming changes that could affect manufacturing. There needs
to be an active role in safety standards and development, highlights
of equipment trends and opportunities, the recruiting of young
talent into the industry and the creation of standard audits and
reporting.
On the executive level, companies want a trade association with
executive leadership that cooperates with other trade associations
to maximize impact and dollars. It must consider needs of small
business, drive growth, put out a positive image of the industry,
engage in regulatory advocacy and provide information regarding
aerosol trends and regulations in other regions of the world.
Patrick Heskins, Chief Executive of The British Aerosol Manufacturers’
Association (BAMA) and Paul Jackson, BAMA Technical
Director, presented The BAMA Standard for Consumer Safety & Good
Manufacturing Practice.
The BAMA Standard is a resource to the industry that presents
advice in precise language. It allows users to find out where they
are and plan for the future.
Launched in 2001 and now in its 5th Edition, The BAMA
Standard is a voluntary management tool
for taking stock of operations, identifying
strengths and weaknesses, delivering safety by
prescribing levels of achievement and identifying
training needs.
For BAMA, the BAMA Standard provides
clear leadership and credibility, builds on the
safety record of BAMA Guidance and improves
interactive relationships with all members
through benchmarking. For the aerosol
industry, it sets out clear recommendations
on safety standards and a methodology for
demonstrating adherence and promotes the
aerosol format by providing increased assurance
for insurers, markets and retailers. For
regulators, it is a tool for inspection and a
level playing field for the UK industry.
Eight modules set out clear requirements
Jackson
on how to design, make, distribute and dispose of aerosols
safely. This self-assessment tool allows companies to identify their
strengths and weaknesses and decide where to make improvements.
It provides companies a means to demonstrate that they are
operating good manufacturing practice, promotes a philosophy of
continual improvement, provides a focus for industry-specific training
and covers the entire life cycle of aerosols.
The Standard provides guidance, gives backup information and
explains what’s required and why. It helps with the “do we comply”
question? The BAMA Standard helps identify where remedial
action is needed, aids problem-solving and encourages “buy-in” at
all levels in the organization.
Modules include Product Design; Supply of Components &
Raw Materials; Manufacturing; Consumer Labeling & Provision
of Information; Transport of Aerosols (Packaging & Labeling);
Warehousing of Aerosols; Disposal of Full and Partially Full Aerosols;
and Emergency Planning. Each Module has an Excel checklist
wherein a firm can self-assess operations against requirements in
all relevant Modules. Self Assessment helps identify areas that
30 Spray May 2018
Heskins
Ryan Montgomery, Aerofil Technolgy (left) and Midwest Aerosol
Association President Brad Brunsman, Aeropres, attend one of
the many presentations offered at the Aerosol Summit.