accreditation test methods and scopes
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ACCREDITATION TEST METHODS AND SCOPES. Trace McInturff Telecommunications Certification Body Council (TCBC) February 2008 Workshop February 19 – 21, 2008 Bahia Resort San Diego, CA. Accreditation is…. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation
ACCREDITATION TEST METHODS AND SCOPES
Trace McInturffTelecommunications Certification Body Council (TCBC)
February 2008 WorkshopFebruary 19 – 21, 2008
Bahia ResortSan Diego, CA
Accreditation is…
• A third-party attestationattestation related to a conformity assessment bodyconformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks
Accreditation isn’t…
• A guaranteeguarantee on the validity of each and every test result
Assessors are…
• Fact finders
• Technical experts
Assessors are not…
• Police officers
• Accreditation decision makers
So, what is an accredited test?
ISO/IEC 17011 Requirements
• 7.9.4 The accreditation body shall provide an accreditation certificate to the accredited CAB.
• 7.9.5 The accreditation certificate shall also identify the following:– the tests or types of tests performed and
materials or products tested and the methods the methods usedused.
A2LA General Requirements
• The scope of accreditation is normally identified in terms of standard test methods prepared by national, international, and professional standards writing bodies.
• If a laboratory desires accreditation only for a superseded version of a standard test method, the date of the version used is identified in its scope of accreditation.
• When the date is not identified in the scope of accreditation, laboratories are expected to be competent in the use of the current version within one year of the date of publication of the standard test method.
What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?
• Management System– Document Control – using the latest method– Internal Audit – technical audit of the method– Management Review
• Lab up-to-date with technology
• Staff up-to-date with technology
• Resources to support technology
What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?
• Technical– Competent staff– Laboratory facilitate correct performance of test– Appropriate method– Measurement uncertainty– Control of data
What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?
• Technical (cont’d)– Equipment– Measurement Traceability– Handling of test items– Quality control (PT?)– Reports
Matrix
Scope of Accreditation
• ILAC-G18:2002
The scope of accreditation of a testing laboratory is the formalformal and preciseprecise statement of the activities which the laboratory is accredited for.
Scope ExampleTest Technology Test Method(s)Basic Test Method Standards (Emissions):Conducted & Radiated: ANSI C63.4-2003; FCC OST MP-5:1986; EIA/TIA-603:1993;
TIA/EIA-603:2001; CISPR 11:1990; EN 55011:1991;CISPR 11:1997 + A1:1999 + A2:2002; CISPR 11:2003 +A1:2004
+A2:2006; EN 55011:1998 + A1:1999 + A2:2002; EN 55011:2007 + A2:2007;CISPR 12:2001 + A1:2005; EN 55012:2002 + A1:2005; CISPR 13:1996 + A1:1998; CISPR 13:2001;CISPR 13:2001 + A1:2003 + A2:2006;EN 55013:2001 + Corrigendum 1;EN 55013:2001 + Corrigendum 1 + A1:2003 + A2:2006;EN 55013:1990 + A12:1994 + A13:1996 + A14:1999;CISPR 14-1:1993 + A1:1996 + A2:1998;EN 55014-1:1993 + A1:1997 + A2:1999; CISPR 14-1:2000 + A1:2001; EN 55014-1:2000 + A1:2001; CISPR 14-1:2000 + A1:2001 + A2:2002;EN 55014-1:2000 + A1:2001+ A2:2002;CISPR 14-1:2005; EN 55014-1:2006; CISPR 22:1993 +
A1:1995+A2:1996; EN 55022:1994 + A1:1995 + A2:1997; CISPR 22:1997 +
A1:2000+A2:2002; EN 55022:1998 + A1:2000 + A2:2003; CISPR 22:2005 + A1:2005;EN 55022:2006 + C1:2006
ISO/IEC 17025 Requirements
• 4.4 Review of requests, tenders and contracts
– Policies and procedures• the requirements, including the methodsmethods to be used,
are adequately defined, documented and understood
• the appropriate test methodmethod is selected and is capable of meeting the customers’ requirements
ISO/IEC 17025 Requirements
• 5.10.2 Test reports– Each test report shall include at least the
following information:
e) identification of the methodmethod used;
Endorsed Reports
• While inclusion of the “A2LA Accredited” symbol on reports is not mandatory, onlyonly reports bearing the “A2LA Accredited” symbol can benefit from the acceptance established through mutual recognition agreements/arrangements among accreditation bodies.
Accredited?
• Request copy of their scope of accreditation
• Check Accreditation Body website
Have an Issue With Non-Accredited Testing Lab?
• Complain to the lab and hope for the best
Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?
• Complain to the lab– ISO/IEC 17025:2005 section 4.8 requires test
laboratories to have a complaints process
Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?
• Complain to the Accreditation Body– ISO/IEC 17011:2004 section 5.9 requires
accreditation bodies to have a complaints process
Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?
• Complain to one of the International Laboratory Accreditation Systems – APLAC (http://www.aplac.org/)– EA (http://www.european-accreditation.org/)– IAAC (http://www.iaac.org.mx/)– ILAC (http://www.ilac.org/)
Mutual Recognition ArrangementsILAC
EA APLAC
IAAC Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation
EA European co-operation for AccreditationAPLAC Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation
Cooperation
ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
IAAC
Mutual Recognition Arrangements
This guy did not use an Accredited Testing Lab
Questions?
Contact Info
Trace McInturffA2LA
5301 Buckeystown Pike Suite 350Frederick, MD 21704
Direct line: 301 644 3223Fax: 301 662 2974