6 Steps to ISO 17025 Laboratory Accreditation

1. Top Management Commitment & project plan

To attain a quality management system, the top management and employees should consistently remain committed. The project planning should have full clarity from the top management; therefore, the procedure should not be taken lightly. Before implementing various plans, the top management authorizes extensive research on the current state of the QMS progress by acquiring accurate data. The data determines the rate of change required by the existing system and procedures for conversion to promote a successful assessment process. A well-formulated project plan ensures the management understands the commitment required and changes for achieving and maintaining ISO 17025 certification. Second, develops comprehensive changes for employees through the management plan. Finally, ensuring awareness of clients by understanding the values of ISO 17025 accreditation.

2. Build competence and awareness

Building awareness of clients and organization employees promotes a clear understanding of the standard’s requirements and the output of services provided. The employees’ competence of new changes can be communicated through education or the management making announcements of ISO 17025 accreditation significance, thus promotes a positive impact and better understanding. Undertaking a better view by comparing regulatory commitments and existing standards helps elude the laboratory accreditation values.

3. Develop process documentation

Documentation of processes involves listing methods and activities performed within the laboratory to ensure competent calibration and testing. The project’s main objective involves observing existing processes and redesigning the processes to address the standard’s requirements. Controlling the processes can be done after clearly modifying the current formulated process.

4. Implementation of the system to address gaps

Addressing a gap analysis implements the system by determining areas of change required from the existing QMS. An analysis checklist to address gaps is formulated for organizations demanding initial accreditations by evaluating requirements for calibration and testing in laboratories. The requirements help the management evaluate the organization’s laboratory capabilities which are compared with the gaps checklist.

5. Internal audit

The internal audits confirm the organization’s system performance and measures required for improvement. The program’s internal audit assesses the compliance of the operations undertaken with the ISO 17025

6. Third-party certification audit

The third-party certification audit ensures the organizations’ system meets every ISO 17025 requirement. Third-party certification audits are convenient for clients since it operates as an unbiased guarantee that the organizations’ laboratory performance is quality.

 

Sterling helps organizations all over the world to get ISO 17025 certification. Contact us today and we’ll help you start this process!