ISO/IEC 17025:2005- Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
For laboratories working in today’s plastics business, consistency, accuracy and traceability are essential. ISO/IEC17025:2005 is a management standard for laboratories, which details the general requirements for the processes required to carry out tests, calibrations, and sampling. It covers testing and calibration performed using standard, non-standard and laboratory-developed methods.
Laboratories which examine and test plastics, whether in-house or external, need to be able to demonstrate that they have processes in place to conduct specific tests and their staff are fully trained and qualified. In addition, any instruments or equipment used is regularly maintained, and a full record is kept, while test results are reported in a consistent manner. International standard for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17025:2005 demonstrates that the business has been independently audited, and can show that they have systems in place to meet this standard. It demonstrates competence in tests, calibrations, sampling, and inspection, within the scope of quality, administrative and technical operations.
ISO/IEC17025:2005 follows the successful Plan-Do-Check-Act model, incorporating existing systems, and builds on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement plans.
How can ISO/IEC 17025:2005 help your plastics business?
| • Supports approval by regulatory authorities • Access to more customers • Highlights standard practices and competence • Builds on existing systems and industry best practice • Demonstrates consistency • Internationally recognized industry standard for quality • Continuous improvement built-in |
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Achieving this standard demonstrates that staff are aware of the significance of consistent working practices, and have been trained to deliver, equipment is routinely serviced and calibrated, and standard testing methods are recorded. It is vital that the Chain of Custody is developed, with appropriate storage and identification, and full traceability of samples throughout.
Integration with other standards: While ISO/IEC17025:2005 can be implemented on its own, it has been based on ISO 9001. It enjoys international recognition, and is an auditable standard which can be awarded third party certification. When a business already has ISO9001 in place, achieving ISO/IEC17025:2005 becomes much simpler. With an estimated million ISO 9001 certificates now issued in 170 countries, the ISO 9001 standards have been written to enable the company to relate them to other management systems relevant to the plastics sector.
This content has been kindly provided by Business Support Network Member IMSM
