ISO/IEC 17025

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ISO/IEC 17025 Certification

In the world of testing and calibration laboratories, maintaining high-quality standards is of utmost importance to ensure accurate and reliable results. To achieve this, laboratories often adhere to specific international standards that help them establish and maintain a robust quality management system. One such prominent standard is ISO 17025, which provides guidelines for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories.

What is ISO/IEC 17025?

ISO 17025 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It outlines general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. The standard applies to all laboratories, regardless of their size or the scope of their testing and calibration activities. Laboratories that comply with ISO 17025 demonstrate their ability to produce accurate, precise, and consistent results, thus instilling confidence in their clients and stakeholders. It covers various essential aspects, such as personnel competence, equipment calibration, testing methodologies, quality assurance, and document control.
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ISO/IEC 17025

Benefits of ISO/IEC 17025: 1. By adopting or implementing the ISO/IEC 17025 standard requirements and achieving accreditation, a laboratory will gain national and international recognition, thereby making it easier for customers to readily identify and select reliable laboratories; 2. By choosing an accredited laboratory, clients will experience reduction in the costs of re-testing their products; 3. By complying with the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard, the laboratory will have a better control over its activities; 4. When performing testing/calibration services, the laboratory managers/technicians will be able to access better and updated technologies, which will increase the confidence in generating valid results; 5. An accredited laboratory will experience an increase in revenues and profits due to the laboratory’s proficient capability to provide reliable and technically valid results; 6. The laboratory will ensure the validity of standard, non-standard and laboratory developed test methods which impact the provision of reliable data to their clients.

Start your journey to ISO/IEC 17025 certification

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The Certification Journey

Certification Achieved

Certification Achieved Successful certification is communicated to the client. Certificates are issued.

Certification Review & Decision

The organisations files are reviewed by an independent and impartial panel and the certification decision is made

Recommendation for Certification

At this point in the process we review any corrective actions taken to address findings raised at Stage 1 & 2. Certification may be recommended

Stage Two

The second assessment determines the effectiveness of the system, and seeks to confirm that the management system is implemented and operational.

Stage One

The initial assessment determines if the mandatory requirements of the standard are being met and if the management system is capable of proceeding to Stage 2.

Certification Achieved

Certification Achieved Successful certification is communicated to the client. Certificates are issued.

Certification Review & Decision

The organisations files are reviewed by an independent and impartial panel and the certification decision is made

Recommendation for Certification

At this point in the process we review any corrective actions taken to address findings raised at Stage 1 & 2. Certification may be recommended

Stage Two

The second assessment determines the effectiveness of the system, and seeks to confirm that the management system is implemented and operational.

Stage One

The initial assessment determines if the mandatory requirements of the standard are being met and if the management system is capable of proceeding to Stage 2.

ISO/IEC 17025 FAQ's

Participation in proficiency testing helps laboratories assess their performance, identify areas for improvement, demonstrate competence to stakeholders, and enhance the reliability of their test results.

The quality manager plays a crucial role in overseeing the implementation of quality management systems, ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, and driving continuous improvement within the laboratory.

Yes, ISO/IEC 17025 is flexible and can be applied to various types of laboratories, including those in sectors like healthcare, environmental testing, food safety, and more.

ISO/IEC 17025 requires laboratories to evaluate and report measurement uncertainty to ensure the reliability and accuracy of test and calibration results.

The standard requires laboratories to establish and maintain impartiality and confidentiality in their operations to ensure the integrity and reliability of their testing and calibration activities.

ISO/IEC 17025 is specifically for testing and calibration laboratories, focusing on technical competence, while ISO 9001 is a broader quality management standard applicable to various types of organizations.

Laboratories can benefit from implementing ISO/IEC 17025 by: - Enhancing the quality and reliability of their testing and calibration results. - Improving customer confidence in the laboratory's services. - Facilitating international acceptance of test results through mutual recognition agreements. - Increasing operational efficiency and effectiveness.

ISO/IEC 17025 is primarily for testing and calibration laboratories. It is applicable to all organizations performing laboratory activities, regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing and calibration activities.

The main purpose of ISO/IEC 17025 is to ensure that laboratories demonstrate competency in producing reliable and accurate test results and calibration data. It helps in promoting confidence in the services provided by laboratories.

1. Management Requirements: This section emphasizes the importance of establishing a quality management system within the laboratory. It includes defining the organization's policies, responsibilities of key personnel, and ensuring the necessary resources are available for effective operation. 2. Technical Requirements: The technical requirements focus on the competence of laboratory personnel, calibration of equipment, and accuracy of test and calibration methods. Adhering to these requirements guarantees that the laboratory's activities are carried out with precision and reliability. 3. Proficiency Testing: ISO 17025 stresses the significance of participating in proficiency testing programs to assess a laboratory's performance against other accredited laboratories. This enables the identification of areas that may require improvement, contributing to continual enhancement.

ISO/IEC 17025 is useful for any organization that performs testing, sampling or calibration and wants reliable results. This includes all types of laboratories, whether they be owned and operated by government, industry or, in fact, any other organization.