The ISO 17025 is a global standard for laboratories that can be implemented by all laboratories that perform testing, calibration, or sampling. If the laboratory has decided that they want to offer competent, professional testing services, accreditation is a strong assurance to customers that it offers relevant services and creates a bond of faith about the services. Also, ISO 17025 allows laboratories to incessantly maintain the complex procedure of testing and to accomplish a higher level of quality in their management system.
A measuring, sampling, or calibration laboratory of any kind must complete the accreditation procedure to provide testing as a professional service. The organization must fully comply with the ISO 17025 standard to receive accreditation. The organization profile will be enhanced by the required competence and quality thanks to compliance with the ISO 17025 standard. ISO 17025 consultant helps in the implementation process, documentation, audits, and provides proper guidelines according to what is the best fit for the organization. Here, mention some of the key benefits of ISO 17025 implementation.
- Professional working approach: Implementing ISO 17025 will allow a hierarchical order and clear job responsibilities for all the employees. All the processes and guidelines that the laboratory establishes will determine which actions are required from the personnel. They will follow established procedures, policies, and work rules, and will fulfill the company’s expectations. Laboratory employees will also perform their jobs more responsibly, opening the path to successful personal development. Efforts for the promotion of a professional approach will significantly increase the chances of the company becoming more competitive and promoting its services as valid and reliable.
- Consistent ‘laboratory – customer’ relations: ISO 17025 laboratory will support customers by attending to any inquiries related to the test process and their expectations of the results. Laboratory management must be confident that customer relations are managed and that there is space for building trust through customer feedback. The customer has a trusted business relationship when the laboratory is committed to privacy and does not share information about results with the public, apart from when there is an agreement from the customer for the laboratory to do so. Also, there is a possibility for the customer to express concerns about the laboratory’s work. Obviously, the laboratory will authorize that and has acknowledged such concerns, subsequently investigate them, and will inform the customer regarding progress and final conclusions.
- Competence demonstration: Competency assessment confirms that only trained, skilled and authorized staff can perform laboratory tasks. To present its capability, the laboratory must successfully implement the technical test procedures. Also, a demonstration of competence confirms that the laboratory test will be effective. If all the procedures inside the laboratory are accomplished and authenticated then the reputation of the laboratory will be sustainable.
- An iterative process of management: The ISO 17025 standard offers options for iterative management of the processes in the laboratory. The process is a repeatable driving enhancement and dropping complexity. Quality management of the processes can be used as a process for upgrading the laboratory work, worker work attitude, and development of skills. It also promotes the application of the final report and finding system errors.
- The validity of the final report: An accredited laboratory submits final reports to customers, where the results are used as the base for a result, or to authenticate conformity to a specification. Evaluation of the measurement uncertainty is done to support the validity of the assertion. The final report must deliver the necessary information and be precise, showing that the laboratory has an established reputation.
- Conformity with testing trends: Accredited ISO 17025 laboratories keep up with changes to ISO 17025 and, if necessary, start making improvements and taking remedial action. Professional lab staff may recommend novel testing procedures or enhance current ones. By using a deliberate approach and including staff members who are working to develop their laboratory expertise, the laboratory can improve or provide new services.