The art of tidying up your SOPs When was the last time you thoroughly sorted through and updated your laboratory’s standard operating procedures? Perhaps you have some great procedures buried in long-winded prose that should be converted into a flowchart or diagram and proudly displayed around the workplace? Likewise, perhaps it’s time you finally culled… read more »
Accreditation News.
4 Steps to Reducing The Mental Load of Lab Managers
Following on from our previous post on the topic, here’s a step-by-step guide to show you how to implement the process approach. How to implement the process approach 1. Start at the top: Getting your team to embrace the process approach starts with YOU Do you like the sound of having more time to focus on… read more »
Tools and Tips for NATA-Ready Cause Analysis
How to get root cause analysis right for NATA We all love that feeling when NATA accepts our first response to an assessment report! But since NATA introduced their new reporting format, we’re seeing NATA reject many responses from labs because they haven’t included an adequate root cause analysis. If you’re struggling to understand what… read more »
Designed to benefit: Risks & Opportunities in ISO 17025
A good system recognises the strategic benefit of minimising risk and maximising opportunity. The new ISO/EIC 17025: 2017 standard puts extra emphasis on this by promoting risk-based thinking, preventive action and process design. It is about optimising your organisation’s overall strategy by planning, taking, and recording actions that prevent risk and enhance opportunity. There is… read more »
Reporting Compliance in ISO 17025
Do you report results as pass or fail on test reports? As normal, high or low? Within spec, outside spec, complying or not complying? Would your clients like you to report with a statement of conformity? Then you need to know about decision rules in the new ISO 17025. While you have utmost confidence in… read more »
The 4 Big Benefits of NATA Accreditation
As business-owners, we must always think long-term and resist the tendency to be forever caught up in day-to-day demands. “A stitch in time saves nine” goes the old saying. This could not be more true than it is for laboratories offering quality-assured services, and vying for client trust in competitive markets. There is no… read more »
Five steps to implement new accreditation requirements
Wondering when you will get time to deal with all those new accreditation requirements? You’ve been notified of new standards, guidelines, or regulations that need to be implemented. It’s time to get busy writing new procedures, right? Jumping in without enough thought and preparation leads to woolly procedures, written solely to meet requirements, that clutter… read more »
Behind the scenes: how our clients make the world a safer place
With World Accreditation Day highlighting the theme of safety this year, we want to celebrate the incredible work our clients are doing behind the scenes. From ensuring the reliability of rail infrastructure to safeguarding food production, these businesses remind us what accreditation is all about. As an accreditation specialist, it’s no surprise that I have… read more »
How Safe is Your NATA Accreditation?
Danger ahead: warning signs for NATA Accredited Labs When a lab has their NATA accreditation suspended, it usually comes as a huge shock. But there are warning signs for poor assessment outcomes. You can determine whether there are issues that you should address before NATA arrives. These are some of the red flags noticable in… read more »