Simple Steps to Get Your Laboratory ISO 17025 Accredited
Laboratories that are engaged in testing, calibration and verification services can get the ISO 17025 accreditation to prove their technical proficiency and have a confident client base. The standard defines the specific requirements for laboratories to implement their Quality Management System (QMS). Being accredited with an international standard would provide many benefits to your laboratory. It would build its credibility and recognition in the testing and calibration industry for always delivering reliable, quality and accurate results. With a standard QMS, you can also reduce your operational costs by minimizing defects and chances of retesting or revaluation.
This blog will present a simple step by step procedure to get accredited.
Simplified Procedure to Get ISO 17025 Accreditation
Choose an Accreditation Body and Apply for ISO 17025
This is the first fundamental step. You need to select an esteemed accreditation body that would carry out a methodical audit of your QMS. You need to give an application for accreditation to the body. They would conduct a preliminary assessment of your laboratory’s processes and QMS to provide you with the exact timeframe and quotation for the procedure. They would also explain the scope of your QMS, the current compliance status of your QMS and its documentation.
Prepare for the Accreditation
To prepare for the ISO 17025 accreditation, first ensure that there is a QMS implemented in your laboratory. If there is no such dedicated management system implemented, then take time to develop it meeting the ISO 17025 requirements and making the employees familiar with it through training. If there is already a QMS, then carry out a thorough gap analysis to find out the ISO requirements that are not met by it. Consequently, take appropriate actions to mend those gaps and make the QMS fully compliant.
Documentation is another part of preparation. Make sure you have everything documented including quality manual, work instructions, procedures and various records of testing /inspection activities.
Perform Training
Make sure all staff is made aware of the ISO 17025 accreditation as well as instructed on how to meet compliance with its requirements. Therefore, they should be provided with a few training sessions, highlighting the major changes that are going to happen in daily procedures and quality management methods.
Accreditation Assessment
Once you are prepared and the staff are trained, it is time for accreditation assessment. Experienced auditors from the selected body would assess your laboratory’s methods and QMS on-site and evaluate their compliance with the requirements of the accreditation. They may even interview the staff, inspect various calibration equipment or testing tools, and check through various documents or records. In short, they would walk through the laboratory to seek evidence for confirming its competency and assuring its ISO compliance.
Corrective Actions Implementation
If the accreditation body observes certain deficiencies, faulty methods or nonconformance issues in your laboratory, they would allow you some time and recommend appropriate actions. You should make plans and implement the corrective actions required to resolve all those identified issues.
Accreditation
The body would follow up to check whether you have corrected all the deficiencies and nonconformity issues. After verifying everything, they would grant the ISO accreditation to your laboratory.
Bottom Line
If you want your testing and calibration laboratory to stand out in the industry, getting the ISO 17025 accreditation is the wisest decision ever! It demonstrates the technical proficiency of your laboratory and its consistent capability to provide valid quality results to the customers. Therefore, you could attract more new clients and also get access to the global market. Your laboratory becomes a well-recognized facility and so public sector organizations, large industry contractors, product researchers, regulatory bodies, etc. that are in need of testing, sampling and calibration services would seek to contact you.
Contact Details:
Business Name: Compliancehelp Consulting, LLC
Email Id: info@quality-assurance.com
Phone No: 877 238 5855
Also Read: Know Different Types of ISO Standards to Decide Which are Required for Your Business
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