Which changes will be brought about by the new edition of ISO/IEC 17025?

• Published in: Accreditation and quality assurance 2005-05, Vol.10 (5), p.259-260
• Main Author: Wloka, Monika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accreditation; Calibration; Certification; Communication; Compliance; Conformity; ISO standards; Laboratories; Quality management; Quality standards; Working groups
• ISSN: 0949-1775; 1432-0517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00769-005-0920-8

Purpose of the amendment The objective of ISO CASCO WG 25 starting in 2002 was the preparation of an amendment to ISO/IEC 17025:1999 in order to bring this standard in line with the requirements for a quality system described in ISO 9001:2000. The responsible ISO/CASCO Working Group discussed with representatives of the TC 176 in charge of the ISO 9000 standards series who is the customer for the laboratory and, in general, for conformity assessment bodies in connection with the circle of continual improvement of the quality management system described in ISO 9000. To point out that the implementation of a quality management system according to ISO 9001:2000 does not suffice for a laboratory and, on the other hand, that the confirmation of the implementation of ISO/IEC 17025 is not a certification of a quality management system to ISO 9001, in the Introduction to the standard it is stated “Conformity of the quality management system within which the laboratory operates to the requirements of ISO 9001 does not of itself demonstrate the competence of the laboratory to produce technically valid data and results. Nor does demonstrated conformity to this International Standard imply conformity of the quality management system within which the laboratory operates to all requirements of ISO 9001.” “4.10 Improvement: The laboratory shall continually improve the effectiveness of its management system through the use of the quality policy, quality objectives, audit results, analysis of data, corrective and preventive actions and management review.” Conclusion for the quality management system As a result of compliance with ISO 9001:2000 subclause 1.6 states “1.6 If testing and calibration laboratories comply with the requirements of this International Standard they will operate a quality management system for their testing and calibration activities that also meets the principles of ISO 9001.