Creeping criteria: this wonderful term was coined by my old boss at NATA (Helen Liddy) for those times we put a “condition” in an assessment report that was almost a requirement (but really an opinion on how to address a requirement), or when we had taken a criterion from one part of the accreditation documents… read more »
ISO 17025 Accreditation.
Impartiality in the new ISO 17025
The new ISO 17025 puts a bigger emphasis on impartiality and managing conflicts of interest than the previous standard. This is to address an issue that can be particularly problematic in competitive industries such as construction. In some industries there are practices that aren’t ideal for maintaining impartiality and it can be a difficult environment… read more »
How to write great SOPs and declutter systems
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 »
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 »
From busy to business-mastery
Why all lab managers should fully embrace the process approach outlined in ISO17025, ISO9001 and ISO15189 No email-free holiday in years? Scared to take a day off? Alarm bells should be ringing. It may be the last thing you want to hear, but if you are overworked, always too busy or want bigger things for… 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 »
Addressing impartiality in the new ISO 17025
A guest post from Karen Moore, originally posted on LinkedIn August 2018. The ISO 17025:2017 has a bigger emphasis on impartiality and managing conflicts of interest. How do you plan to address these issues in a way that you can discuss with NATA? If you’re like most lab managers, this is a difficult subject to talk about,… 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 »
AS/NZS ISO 17025:2018 is here! Now what?
SAI Global has just released the 2018 version of AS/NZS ISO 17025 the updated laboratory accreditation standard, and NATA has explained how they will approach the implementation. So it’s time to start thinking about how you will approach the changes. (If you need extra help getting on top of the changes, we can help your… read more »