ISO/IEC 17025:2017, General
Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories,
released in 2017, contains all the requirements that testing and calibration laboratories
must meet to demonstrate that they operate a quality management system, are technically
competent and can generate technically valid results. It is the single most
important standard for calibration and testing laboratories around the world. There
is a new emphasis on "risks and opportunities", clearer reference to
sampling activities, new requirements around conformity assessment and a new
emphasis on metrological traceability. ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for
the competence of testing and calibration laboratories are the most extensive
ISO standard to certify testing and calibration laboratories. It is the
standard that not only certifies the management systems used, but also the
technical competence of the laboratory. In most countries suppliers and
regulatory authorities will not accept test or calibration results from a lab
that is not ISO 17025 accredited. A prerequisite for a laboratory to become accredited
is to have a documented quality management system. There are many benefits of
implementing ISO 17025:2017:-
International Reputation: When you
become accredited to ISO 17025, your laboratory will be able to win a great
reputation and shows that it has high standards, putting it above competitors.
Furthermore, when you have a good reputation amongst auditors and regulatory
departments, this will help boost the lab’s reputation not only locally, but
nationally and internationally.
Cost Reduction: ISO 17025:2017 has
strict guidelines and requires labs to carefully monitor results. Getting
accurate and precise results helps minimize the lab’s operational costs. When
retesting is reduced, money will be saved. Overall, the standard creates
parameters to bring control over lab operations and therefore drives the
operational costs down.
Systematic Approach: ISO 17025:2017
requires labs to have taken a systematic approach to their activities. As a
result, this helps keep lab protocols in place.
Improved Lab Testing Environment: Validity and appropriateness of test methods
under prescribed lab environment results in more accurate outcomes. This
ensures quality to customers, and also for your lab. When lab testing is
improved it will save you time and number of tests and in return save you
money. The standard also has strict guidelines for instruments and equipment,
which in return results in reduced repairs and defect levels
Enhanced Customers’ Satisfaction
Level: Labs will gain confidence of their clients and future clients easily
because the ISO is a universally accepted standard. ISO 17025 requirements ensure
that your lab is operating efficiently, consistently and is dedicated to
providing the best results, and therefore providing customer satisfaction.
Documentation: ISO 17025:2017
requires proper documentation of all processes, changes made, errors or
discrepancies and helps mitigate problems, all in all providing stability and
better results for the lab. When the proper documentation is followed, the
staff becomes more accountable.
Employee Morale and Training: The
standard requires training for staff members. The staffs have defined roles,
responsibilities and improve knowledge and can also diversify skill-sets. This
often boosts employee morale and provides them with the training necessary to
be competent.
Conclusion
ISO/IEC 17025: 2017, the international
solution to better laboratory quality, is having an enormous impact on
thousands of calibration and testing laboratories around the world and is
pointing them to accreditation. Calibration and testing laboratories accredited
to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 will find international acceptance of their testing and calibration
results, efficiency in their operations and improved customer satisfaction. There
are many benefits to be derived from implementing a well-structured laboratory
management system such as ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and the accreditation process is
rigorous and timely.
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plan to go for ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Certification, you may ask for Quotation by
providing your organization’s information in application form & Details
addressed in the websites - http://isoindia.org available at the website or submit
your inquiry through feedback. Alternatively you may send your inquiry through
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