National Accreditation System for National Accreditation System for LaboratoriesLaboratories

Progress to dateProgress to date

Meeting held on 18 May 1999 under Meeting held on 18 May 1999 under

auspices of COLTO RMC & SANASauspices of COLTO RMC & SANAS

PurposePurpose

Chart the way ahead for accreditation of Chart the way ahead for accreditation of

laboratories in the road construction industrylaboratories in the road construction industry

ProgressProgress

Attendance by about 70 peopleAttendance by about 70 people

Materials suppliers, contractors, consultants, Materials suppliers, contractors, consultants,

government agencies, independent government agencies, independent

laboratories, SABS, Technikons, SANASlaboratories, SABS, Technikons, SANAS

OutcomeOutcome

Acceptance of SANAS as the umbrella Acceptance of SANAS as the umbrella

organisation for accreditation to ISO/IC organisation for accreditation to ISO/IC

Guide 25Guide 25

Incorporation of expert representatives Incorporation of expert representatives

from road laboratories in the Special from road laboratories in the Special

Technical Committee for Civil Engineering Technical Committee for Civil Engineering

and Road Technologyand Road Technology

STC progressSTC progress

STC has met three timesSTC has met three times

The following issues are being dealt with The following issues are being dealt with

which arose from the meeting of which arose from the meeting of

18 May:18 May:

Field laboratory accreditationField laboratory accreditation

Accreditation of field non-standard test Accreditation of field non-standard test

methodsmethods

STC issues being dealt withSTC issues being dealt with

Repeatability and reproducibility of testsRepeatability and reproducibility of tests

Reference & correlation testing and SANAS Reference & correlation testing and SANAS

requirements for proficiency testing schemesrequirements for proficiency testing schemes

Marketing and education of client bodies and Marketing and education of client bodies and

local authoritieslocal authorities

STC issues dealt withSTC issues dealt with

Guideline documents for the road industryGuideline documents for the road industry

Link with standards generating body related Link with standards generating body related

to SAQA and role of ECSAto SAQA and role of ECSA

Computer software standardsComputer software standards

InteractionInteraction

Good interaction between the COLTO Good interaction between the COLTO

Materials Testing Committee and SANAS Materials Testing Committee and SANAS

STCSTC

4 MTC members serve on STC4 MTC members serve on STC

ChallengesChallenges

The dearth of materials technicians The dearth of materials technicians available for training at quality auditors for available for training at quality auditors for the accreditation processthe accreditation processNo course for materials technicians at the No course for materials technicians at the

technikons for 10 years: efforts are being technikons for 10 years: efforts are being made at Pretoria Technikon to reintroduce the made at Pretoria Technikon to reintroduce the coursecourse

Establishing suitable evaluation criteria for Establishing suitable evaluation criteria for accreditationaccreditation

ChallengesChallenges

The updating of test methods and The updating of test methods and management of the distribution thereofmanagement of the distribution thereofMaterials Testing Committee responsibilityMaterials Testing Committee responsibility

Lacks money and manpower to achieve thisLacks money and manpower to achieve this

Phase 1 to get TMH 1 on the Web in present Phase 1 to get TMH 1 on the Web in present format completedformat completed

Will take a long time to do required revision Will take a long time to do required revision with present resourceswith present resources

General commentsGeneral comments

Accreditation infrastructure provided by Accreditation infrastructure provided by

SANAS will facilitate accreditationSANAS will facilitate accreditation

Industry forces and economics will Industry forces and economics will

determine how successful the drive towards determine how successful the drive towards

accreditation will beaccreditation will be