Lab Accreditation News

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Reasons to Become Certified in ISO 9001

If your organization is looking to improve its internal operational and management processes, then you should consider getting certified in ISO 9001. The ISO 9001 quality management systems accreditation benefits organizations in a number of ways. These advantages aren't just for large companies; small and medium-size businesses also benefit from adopting efficient quality management systems.

The ISO 9001 certification increases operational efficiency, establishes proper processes for future operations, improves documentation of responsibilities and methods, and reduces costs. Additionally, it provides continuous assessment and improvement, as certified companies must be routinely re-inspected to ensure they are maintaining compliance with industry standards.

One of the biggest benefits is the certification gives your organization a competitive edge. The certification shows your organization adheres to the highest quality international standards. This helps increase your credibility and reputation. When companies are seeking a supplier, they often look for organizations that are certified. It's a powerful marketing tool that can be used to your advantage.

The ISO 9001 accreditation offers many perks not just for your business, but also for your customers. Your customers benefit from receiving better quality and service, while you receive fewer complaints and improved customer satisfaction.

To reap the benefits of ISO 9001, get certified learn how to get certified today.

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A Brief Overview Of Different Lab Accreditation Programs

Lab accreditation has always been an important aspect to every credible laboratory as it serves as a valuable resource for competition and quality service. It's a highly recognizable achievement that highlights a lab's commitment to quality, accuracy and excellence. With that said, check out a few different ISO/IEC programs that can apply for inspection and accreditation. 

Energy Star

Did you know the Energy Star label has a brand awareness of 87%? It's a very popular energy-savings program that can be applied to just about any appliance that consumes energy. The purpose of the program is to encourage manufacturers to produce appliances and other products that consume a minimum of 15% less energy than a traditional product. But, how are Energy Star products tested for efficiency? In a laboratory! Energy Star testing laboratories can apply for an ISO 17025 accreditation to meet the standards that the EPA looks for in a testing facility. Given the fact that the Energy Star program has over 40,000 products with the iconic blue label, it can serve as a very beneficial recognition to test such products!

Forensics

Forensic agencies play a vital role in numerous working sectors and some may immediately think of crime scene investigations, latent print analysis, foot and tire pint examinations and more. Due to a vast influx of police agencies needing forensic lab work, many forensic units will seek ISO 17020 accreditation to ensure the police agencies that their work complies with international standards and recognizes good practices that supports competent work.  

Medical Marijuana

Medical marijuana is a growing industry in the healthcare system as studies and reports have found its use as a viable treatment to certain conditions. However, medical marijuana cannot simply be grown for medicinal use without some kind of quality guarantee, which is why there is a rising emergence of medical marijuana testing labs. With that in mind, physicians and healthcare professionals will often seek out medical marijuana testing laboratories that are ISO 17025 accredited to ensure it meets high standards of quality.

Food Standards

When it comes to food and groceries, most consumers are familiar with Grade A products or USDA approved meats like ground beef. Many consumers will often purchases these items because they give peace-of-mind in terms of quality and there is a similar standard in place for deli, on-site butcher, seafood and other items under the IFS Food Store program. The products that are placed in such a program come from a third-party inspection that makes sure the food items meet high ISO 17020 quality standards.

These are just a few of the many examples where lab accreditation is very desirable and gives the respective organization a leg up against competition!

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How To Get ISO 17025 Lab Accreditation

Congratulations - you've decided to get your lab accredited to meet the highest industry standards! There are numerous reasons why you want to have your lab accredited and one of the biggest benefits is to be distinguished among the rest, which will put your lab on the forefront of providers. In fact, numerous governments and industries around the world must seek competent and reliable service that's backed by ISO standards and will choose an accredited lab over a non-accredited lab. That means your lab will be put in the best light because you are providing them with the assurance that your services are accurate, reliable and consistent. With that said, you'll need to do some prep work in order to achieve ISO 17025 accreditation. Read on for some tips to get your lab ready for inspection!

Outline Your Services

Since laboratory services can vary across numerous industries, you'll want to clearly outline your lab capabilities before the accreditation process starts. For example, you may be a food testing lab or conduct blood work – essentially, you want to define what your lab does. Once you have the outline, you can assess those detailed areas and improve them to meet the requirements of the ISO accreditation.

Inform Lab Staff

Your laboratory staff will know the in-and-out of your lab better than anyone else, especially the senior lab staff. With that said, you can learn valuable insight from them, which means you should talk to them about the forthcoming inspections. Ask them about any troubled areas of the lab or ways to improve the capabilities because it can help you find issues before your inspected. Perhaps equipment needs to be replaced or certain procedures need to be updated – this is the kind of information you'll need to use towards your advantage to get accredited.  

Re-Evaluate Your Procedures

Every single laboratory should have a list of operational procedures and safety protocols because it is a big factor when determining your eligibility for accreditation. The inspectors will ask to review such material and if you cannot provide them with it, you can guarantee you will not achieve accreditation. With that in mind, take some time to re-evaluate your operational procedures and make sure they are easily accessible.

Make Appropriate Changes

You can find materials on the accreditation process, which can serve as guidelines that you will need to follow and adhere to. Once you get the framework to the inspection process, make the necessary changes that will fall in line to the guidelines so you can increase your chances of becoming accredited. Following the accreditation, be sure those new standards are satisfied every single day because your services will be expected to be of the highest quality.