Have you heard about ISO 17025? Of course, we are not familiar with that term unless you are involved in the laboratory field. ISO 17025 is actually the primary ISO standard utilized by the testing and calibration laboratories. In other words, it is the standard that almost every lab must follow and hold accreditation. If the lab is not accredited with ISO 17025, suppliers and regulatory authorities will not accept the test and calibration results from that lab. Customers and clients will also be doubtful to proceed testing from that laboratory. If you are looking for an authorized lab supplier or planner that could help you with ISO 17025, you can check iso 17025 malaysia. Now let’s take a look at why the implementation of ISO 17025 is really important.
- Professional working approach
Implementing ISO 17025 will allow for a hierarchical order and clear work responsibilities for all employees. The procedures and guidelines established by the laboratory will determine which actions are necessary in the laboratory procedures. They will follow established procedures, policies, and laboratory regulations, as well as meet the company’s expectations. Consequently, a company’s internal management will be more achievable, and the opportunities for systematic error through risk management will improve. This means laboratory workers will be more responsible in their work.
- Reliable laboratory-customer relations
An ISO 17025 laboratory will interact with customers by responding to any inquiries they may have about the testing process and their expectations of the result obtained. Laboratory management needs to be sure that customer relations are being appropriately managed and that there is room for mutual trust through feedback from customers. In addition, the customer has the choice to raise concerns regarding the laboratory’s work. Of course, the labs will acknowledge such concerns, analyze them, and keep the customer updated on progress and ultimate decision.
- The validity of final results
An accredited laboratory sends final results to customers, in which the results are utilized to make a decision or to ensure compliance with a specification. Due to the fluctuation in results as a result of testing, controls are in place in an ISO 17025 laboratory to minimize this range of variation. The final report must contain all of the relevant information and be accurate, demonstrating that the laboratory has a proven reputation that it can rely on.
- Gain and maintain credibility
All processes and policies are checked and audited on a regular basis. This is done to keep the laboratory up to date on new and advancing approaches. The laboratory auditing and protocol review add credibility to the results, testing, and calibration. This will also help the laboratory’s reputation and trustworthiness. An accreditation organization will conduct regular assessments (audits) to ensure that everything is performed correctly in accordance with ISO 17025 requirements and by well-trained employees.