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ISO/IEC 17025:2017

General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

Image by Annie Spratt

Resources

ISO/IEC 17020:2012

Conformity assessment - requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection

Photo by Artist A.S. Dutton (adamdutton.wordpress.com)

20161214_083612.jpg

Photo by Artist A.S. Dutton

ISO/IEC 17025, prepared by the ISO Committee on Conformity Assessment (CASCO), is all about promoting confidence in the operation of laboratories and promotes a continuous improvement philosophy. It contains requirements, that when implemented, enables laboratories to operate consistently and with impartiality to generate valid results.  All in all, ISO/IEC helps to facilitate cooperation and acceptance worldwide. 

Follow is a summary of the types of requirements.  

  • Impartiality and confidentiality requirements

  • Organizational structure and resources requirements that include requirements for 

personnel, facilities and environmental conditions, equipment, metrological traceability, and externally provided products and services.

  • Process requirements for selection, verification and validation of methods, handling of test and calibration items, technical records, and reporting.

  • Management system requirements that include auditing, corrective action, and management review.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017

General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

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ISO/IEC 17020:2012 

Conformity assessment - Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection  

ISO/IEC 17020, prepared by CASCO, is for promoting confidence in inspection bodies and provides requirements for conducting assessments to evaluate conformance of items to regulations, standards, specifications, inspection schemes or contracts. Inspection can include the examination of materials, products, installations, plants, processes, work procedures or services.  Follow is a summary of the types of requirements.  

  • Impartiality, independence, and confidentiality requirements

  • Organizational structure and resource requirements that include requirements for 

personnel, facilities, and equipment, and subcontracting.

  • Process requirements for inspection methods and procedures, handling of inspection items and samples, records, reports, and certificates.

  • Management system requirements that include auditing, corrective action, and management review.

Additional Resources

Forest Trees

01

International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

03

International Organization for Standardization

05

American National Standards Institute

02

International Bureau of Weights and Measures

04

InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation

06

National Institute of Standards and Technology

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