ISO 17025 - TESTING and CALIBRATION LABORATORIES
Ensuring Confidence in Testing and Calibration
- Run an Efficient Laboratory by Implementing Structured Management Systems
- Establish Yourself as an Industry Leader by Following an Internationally Recognised Standard
- Gain a Competitive Edge By Boosting Your Laboratory's Credibility
ISO 17025 OVERVIEW
Useful for any organization which carries out testing, sampling or calibration and wants reliable results, ISO 17025 is the international standard for measuring laboratory efficiency. Gaining and maintaining such accreditation shows that your laboratory wants to maintain a high-level of proficiency and is committed to continuous improvement and setting up a structured system. Using a holistic approach, this standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing all the services required within a laboratory accurately and methodically.
ISO 17025 OVERVIEW
Useful for any organisation which carries out testing, sampling or calibration and wants reliable results, ISO 17025 is the international standard for measuring laboratory efficiency. Gaining and maintaining such accreditation shows that your laboratory wants to maintain a high-level of proficiency and is committed to continuous improvement and setting up a structured system. Using a holistic approach, this standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing all the services required within a laboratory accurately and methodically.
What are the benefits of achieving ISO 17025?
ISO 17025 is the international standard for laboratory proficiency. In order to inspire confidence and demonstrate their trustworthiness to customers, all laboratories performing testing, sampling or calibration should strive to gain this accreditation. For a deeper understanding towards why accreditation would be profitable for your business, here’s a list of this ISO’s top benefits.
Global Recognition
ISO 17025 demonstrates competence in testing and calibration, enhancing international credibility and facilitating easier market entry.
Improved Lab Efficiency
ISO 17025 equips you with the right tools to streamline processes, reduce errors and enhance the accuracy and reliability of your results, setting your lab apart from others.
Competitive Differentiation
ISO 17025 sets your laboratory apart from competitors by showcasing a commitment to quality and technical excellence.
What Topics Does ISO 17025 cover?
Published in 2017, the ISO 17025:2017 Testing & Calibration Laboratories Quality Management System remains the most recent and up-to-date version of this standard. Using a high-level system that allows it to be easily implemented alongside other ISO management systems, this standard follows the same ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ model which defines all of the revised ISO standards. The following shows a brief overview of the topics this standard covers:
- Contextualising the Organisation’s Testing & Calibration systems and defining its overarching scope.
- Establishing Testing & Calibration leadership and worker roles.
- Planning to manage risks and opportunities.
- Offer support through suitable communication and documentation.
- Operational planning.
- Performance evaluation.
- Opportunities for corrective action
Reap Results by Achieving Certification
Although achieving ISO 17025 accreditation is not a legal requirement, owning this accreditation says a lot about what type of business you are running. Adhering to this standard boasts inherent benefits but it also sends the right message to you clients, investors and competitors. Getting this accreditation proves that your organisation:
- Values the quality of the laboratory services it provides
- Is compliant with laboratory statutes and requirements.
- Understands the business related benefits of having good management systems in place.
- Is an industry leader which operates at a level of excellence by implementing the most up-to-date management standards.
Work with An Expert
For some companies, it might be tempting to read the standard and attempt to implement these processes without receiving any expert guidance. However, this is typically not enough to implement an efficient, long-term management system. A literal interpretation of this standard may easily create an overly bureaucratic management system, yielding the opposite results of what could otherwise be achieved. Instead of a structured system based on the smart analysis of data, you could easily end up with an overly complicated and inefficient system.
Instead, hiring an expert consultancy with years of experience is the best way to effectively meet your ISO standards. Make sure to choose an expert you trust, to provide you with a grounded approach that will simplify your life, rather than over-complicate it.
accreditation Bodies
When looking to get ISO accreditation, a company can only work with that country’s accreditation body. It is important to make sure that your accreditation body is fully accredited, as only these entities are truly qualified to provide ISO accreditation. In Malta, NAB (National Accreditation Board) is the only accreditation body authorised to provide ISO 17025 accreditation.
Fund YOUR JOURNEY TO ISO accreditation
As a Malta Enterprise approved advisor, Luke can help his clients reap the full benefits of currently available funding. Applicable to any business based in Malta, the Government of Malta’s current funding schemes have never been better. The precise amount depending on your company’s size and ownership structure.
For more information, simply get in touch for a free consultation session! Luke will help you to make the most of the best available funding incentives applicable to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 17025 important?
This standard is designed to outline the general requirements for the proficiency, impartiality and consistency of the laboratory’s operation. This allows laboratories to prove that they generate accurate results conducted by experts, in turn inspiring trust for their work both locally and at an international level.
How long will my ISO 17025 accreditation last?
Your ISO 17025 accreditation will need to be renewed after a period of three years. To maintain your accreditation, an assessment must be conducted once a year and re-accreditation is issued every three years to ensure that your testing & calibration laboratory systems continue to operate within the ISO 17025 required standards.
Does ISO 17025 use a high-level structure?
Yes, like other ISO standards that are concerned with different types of management systems - including ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 - the ISO 17025 uses a high-level structure. This indicates that the ISO 17025 may be effortlessly integrated within any existing ISO management system.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO IMPLEMENT ISO 17025?
The amount of time it takes your company to earn your certification all depends on the size and complexity of your business. Luke will help you to make this process as swift and efficient as possible for your convenience.
DOES MY ORGANISATION NEED TO GET ISO 17025 accredited TO IMPROVE OUR Laboratory Efficiency MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
Whilst organisations can attempt to optimise their laboratory efficiency management systems without accreditation, ISO 17025 provides a structured approach which is sustainable and internationally trusted.
Therefore, although it is not necessary, it is a recommended tried-and-tested means of achieving laboratory efficiency management.
IN MALTA, WHO CAN PROVIDE ISO 17025 ACCREDITATION?
In Malta, only the National Accreditation Board (NAB) can provide ISO 17025 accreditation.