Quality in Global Trade: Building Trust With TIC
From the metals that make our products to the fuels that power our industries and the grains that feed us, quality in global trade isn’t just a standard; it’s the foundation of trust.
In 2024, global trade reached $33 trillion. Modern supply chains are interconnected and global. Materials may be mined in one country, refined in another, and used halfway across the world. Therefore, even minor quality issues could disrupt supply chains and cost millions.
Third-party Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) builds trust in trade through rigorous processes that verify a product’s quality, safety, and compliance with standards, essential for navigating today’s complex markets with integrity.
METALS AND MINERALS: PRECISION THAT PROTECTS VALUE
In the metals and minerals sector, minor deviations can impact safety, environmental compliance, and financial outcomes. For example, inaccurate copper or lithium assay results can halt battery production or require costly reprocessing.
Alfred H Knight (AHK) provides independent testing and inspection aligned with ISO/IEC 17025, verifying materials from mine to port and building trust across the supply chain.
Key benefits:
- Verification of grades, purity, and composition
- Oversight from extraction to delivery
- Compliance with international standards
Learn more: Metals and Minerals Services
SOLID FUELS: RELIABILITY THAT POWERS PROGRESS
Fuel quality directly affects industrial efficiency, climate outcomes, and operational safety. Variations in moisture, contamination, or calorific value can reduce output and increase emissions.
Through independent sampling and analysis, AHK helps clients build an accurate and reliable profile of their fuels, supporting efficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainable energy practices.
Quick facts:
- Discrepancies in moisture can lead to reduced plant efficiency
- Contamination can lead to operational downtime
- Quality sampling leads to accurate results
Learn more: Solid Fuels services
QUALITY IN GLOBAL AGRICULTURE TRADE: BUILDING CONFIDENCE THROUGH TRACEABILITY
Quality in agriculture ensures fairness, safety, and sustainability. From fertilizer nutrient content to stored grain conditions, accurate inspection and verification protect supply chains and meet regulatory requirements.
AHK supports traceability from farm to market, helping organisations safeguard product integrity across the agricultural supply chain.
Key benefits:
- Verified nutrient content and storage conditions
- Traceability from field to distribution
- Compliance with international standards
Learn more: Agriculture services
QUALITY IN CIRCULAR ECONOMY: DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY
Accurate material characterisation is critical in the circular economy. Understanding the composition of end-of-life materials such as e-waste, catalysts, or black mass enables efficient recycling and resource recovery.
AHK helps organisations maximise reuse, minimise waste, and improve sustainability through precise testing, inspection, and consultancy.
Key benefits:
- Verified nutrient content and storage conditions
- Traceability from field to distribution
- Compliance with international standards
Learn more: Circular Economy solutions.
OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY IN GLOBAL TRADE.
With over 140 years of experience, AHK’s commitment to quality drives operational excellence and strengthens client trust. Our Quality Assurance and R&D teams continually refine techniques and embrace innovation. By investing in state-of-the-art equipment and world-class expertise, we deliver results clients can rely on.
Contact us to learn how we can help your organisation build confidence across your supply chains.