Billy Xiao
ECO project manager
Define your role within Nemko.
My current position is ECO project manager. In my role, I act as an ECO Verifier for the Swedish TCO Certified certification. I verify all the environmental aspects based on the TCO Certified criteria and conclude the VOC letter. I help our customers handle all the required documents for the certification body TCO Development and submit the formal application for the final certificate. I should add that TCO Certified is a global certification according to TCO Development; it’s not just a certification in Sweden. My second role would be TCO Certified tester. I have to test the samples and draft the test reports.
How did you choose this career path?
I once worked as an international trade salesman before I joined Nemko. At that time, I always got inquiries about various product compliance requirements. Then, I joined Nemko to handle China market access projects for worldwide customers, and I became the team leader three years later. I was then promoted as team manager of IA services in Nemko Shenzhen. At the end of 2017, the local management suggested that I learn the ECO verifier course of TCO Certified because we had determined to invest in necessary facilities and provide local TCO services in the Shenzhen lab. Finally, I got the qualification from TCO Development and started doing ECO verification at the end of 2018. Then since 2020, I have been a full-time ECO Verifier in Nemko Shenzhen lab. I do not handle market access services anymore.
What do you enjoy most about your job at Nemko?
It’s exciting to meet our worldwide customers, and it’s great to work with so many excellent colleagues to support our customers to get their products certified at the given time. During the test and verification process, I can get to know ideas from different people, the new technology, and the industry trends. Sometimes I happen to see those certified products on some online-shop websites and advertisements; that’s a real sense of achievement.
Are there any challenges that you’ve faced during your career that have taught you important lessons?
Now the challenge is social responsibility issues during my verification. The TCO Certified criteria accept independent social responsibility results (e.g., SA8000, RBA VAP) but has its own criteria to identify the factory risk category. Therefore, ODM / OEM factories have to face strict verification requirements. While Nemko has no social verifier resources to support, it’s a bit difficult when customers ask for help on correcting “non-conformities,” but it’s still OK after communication because I am focusing on TCO Certified verification, not doing the independent social audits.
What do you think the industry will look like in 20 years?
- I remember once the United Nations set the target of carbon neutrality by 2050 as their most important task, so I think the Energy-saving program, ECO design and product sustainability, and carbon footprint evaluation will be popularized.
- “Hardware” will become more and more “software” (depend on more and more software solutions), the cyber-security certification and IoTs will be critical involved in our daily lives.
- Due to the advanced AI technologies, many test engineers’ jobs in laboratories will be replaced by auto-machines.
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
When I help our customers get their products certified on time and support their product delivery to market faster. This helps our customers to get to know Nemko and trust Nemko, and it also benefits building long-term cooperation relationships.
What are some market trends you’re keeping an eye on?
There are many interesting things, such as the fuel automobiles gradually turn to electric power & intelligent driving cars. I think cybersecurity, energy efficiency testing & approval, and carbon emission assessment will become hot topics. The sustainability concept is essential but must avoid “greenwash” to the industry. The independent social responsibility certification /audits could be helpful for brands /manufacturers to drive supply chain transparency under globalization circumstances. However, it may be abused and become a politicized tool in the event of trade disputes between governments.
When not working, how do you spend your spare time?
I love sports. I once played football with my friends regularly. Nowadays, when I am free, I like to watch some football games and the NBA on TV. My son is about ten years old now. I am teaching him to play basketball and Ping-pong, and I often take him hiking in different parks on the weekend.
