Development and Application of a Diagnosis and Evaluation System for Product Safety Management in Manufacturing Companies: A Case Study of Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturing Companies in Korea

Product safety is a significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. The social issues surrounding product safety can directly impact consumers’ health and safety, and failing to comply with product safety standards or providing inaccurate information to consumers can infringe on consumer rights. Therefore, product safety must be approached as a social issue with broad societal implications, necessitating government efforts to manage and oversee these concerns. Simplifying the complexities of product safety management and developing a systematic evaluation framework at the government level are essential. Product safety is a socially significant issue, and leading industrialized nations, which are largely based on manufacturing, invest considerable time and resources to address product safety-related challenges. This study developed a product safety evaluation framework for manufacturing companies based on Korean consumers’ awareness of product safety. It was designed to comprehensively assess manufacturing companies’ technological, procedural, and perceptual levels from a product safety perspective. A total of 101 companies participated, categorized into 43 electrical product manufacturers, 22 daily goods manufacturers, and 36 children’s product manufacturers. The primary goal of this evaluation framework is to enable companies to conduct self-assessments and ultimately promote a culture of product safety. Additionally, the framework aims to assist the government in establishing a systematic product safety evaluation system.