"The aim of this investigation was to setup the procedure to measure the efficiency of market control activities in the European framework. This was carried out by means of analysing the data collected in the last five campaigns of control of industrial products (Cordero and Muñoz Sanz, 2009), performed yearly by the Safety Machinery Lab (Spain). The reliability of the control process or a certain product regarding safety is thus characterised by means of a mathematical model.
The goal of each campaign is to verify whether a particular product falls within the scope of the Machinery Directive (Directive 2006/42/EC, 2006 and xxx, 1644) (on forwards MD).2 This implies to verify compliance with essential health and safety requirements related to the design and construction of machinery and, to test machine according to related Harmonised Standards.
A methodology of experimental design was applied. Sample context (representative population, experimental design, selection criteria) and final sample were defined from data collected during 2002–2006 campaigns.
In a first phase, data were analysed to evaluate their quality, to arrange them in a proper way and to make a trend analysis. Repeated behaviours in the same population (analysis of signpost) were also checked and relations among different product types were setup.
Once the preliminary conclusions were got from this qualitative study, a second phase, quantitative, based on the mathematical post-processing of testing results was developed. It lays down the base that supports the mathematical model. This second phase, which represents the behaviour of the activities of market control, is the matter of discussion of present paper."

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