What does accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 mean?
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is used for testing and calibration laboratories. It also includes the use of standard, non-standard and laboratory-developed methods.
Laboratories that can establish conformity with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 at assessment have evidenced they operate using sound management practices, and are technically competent to do particular tests, calibrations and/or measurements for which they apply accreditation.
Why a laboratory that is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 would want to take up or keep certification to ISO 9001:2015?
There are various reasons why double recognition may be important:
- The laboratory’s customers may stipulate that the laboratory derives or holds ISO 9001 certification
- ISO 9001 certification is seen by incrementing the count of businesses as a path to uninterrupted improvement
- Many laboratory-based organizations take in charge of activities additional to the propagation of test, measurement and standardization of data
Can my ISO 9001 auditor conduct the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 assessment?
If a laboratory contains current ISO 9001 certification, and the evaluation team has access to recent ISO 9001 audit reports and any related follow-up and corrective action information, then it is feasible that the assessment time could be decremented. However this will be taken account on the degree of assurance derived from the audit reports and a sample of management system procedures and records.
No. Management systems auditors are commonly only certified to execute evaluations against a management systems standard. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is both a proficient and management systems standard and needs technical experts in the appraisal team who are capable to make legal opinion of the particular technical competence of the laboratory.
Can the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 assessment team also audit the ISO 9001 management system to save time and cost?
No. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 assessment team can’t do the audit of ISO 9001 management system. However it is surely feasible, and in some cases suitable, to carry on the two assessments at the same time. This can decrement overall time and potentially provide benefits in terms of incorporated findings.
Which standard is the more appropriate for laboratories?
For laboratories related with explaining technical competency underpinned by sound quality system elements, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the more appropriate standard. Even so, if the laboratory is providing a more holistic, quality management realization that explains customer focus and continual improvement, it may determine to also sustain a certified ISO 9001 management system.