What does ISO IEC 17025 mean?

What does ISO IEC 17025 mean?

ISO/IEC 17025 is a company level accreditation based on a standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) titled “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”. This standard is the basis for accreditation from an accrediting body.

What is ISO 17025 quality management system?

A QMS integrates the various internal processes within the organization and intends to provide a process approach for project execution. Process Requirements are the heart of the ISO 17025:2017 standard, describing the activities to ensure that results are based on accepted science and aimed at technical validity.

What is a quality management process?

A Quality Management Process is a set of procedures that are followed to ensure that the deliverables produced by a team are “fit for purpose”. A “Quality Assurance Process” and “Quality Control Process” are then undertaken, to measure and report the actual quality of deliverables.

What is meant by quality management system?

A quality management system (QMS) is defined as a formalized system that documents processes, procedures, and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives. The documents only serve to describe the system.

What is the ISO 17025 standard?

ISO/IEC 17025 is the global quality standard for testing and calibration laboratories. It is the basis for accreditation from an accreditation body. The current release was published in 2005. There are two main clauses in ISO/IEC 17025 – Management Requirements and Technical Requirements.

What are the benefits of correctly implemented ISO/IEC 17025?

Main Benefits of Correctly Implemented ISO/IEC 17025: Implementing ISO/IEC 17025 as part of laboratory quality initiatives provides both laboratory and business benefits such as: • Having access to more contracts for testing and/or calibration. Some public and private organizations only give contracts to accredited laboratories.

How will ISO 17025 impact analytical testing laboratories?

Analytical testing laboratories seeking ISO/IEC 17025 will be impacted in multiple areas. The main difference between good analytical practices and formal accreditation is the amount of documentation to be developed.

What is the difference between UKAS M10 and ISO/IEC 17025?

Some national systems (e.g. UKAS M10 in the UK) were the forerunners of ISO/IEC 17025:1999 but could sometimes be exceedingly prescriptive. ISO/IEC 17025 allows laboratories to carry out procedures in their own ways, but an auditor ( assessor) may require the laboratory to justify using a particular method.