Page 8 - 2014 A2LA Annual Report

A2LA 2014 Annual Report
8

Inspection Body Accreditation Proficiency Testing Provider
Accreditation
For the purpose of accreditation, inspection is defined as
the examination of a product, process, service or instal- Proficiency testing (PT) programs are used by A2LA as
lation or their design and determination of its conformity part of the laboratory accreditation assessment process
with specific requirements or, on the basis of professional to determine the ability of laboratories to competently
judgment, with general requirements. Inspection of perform tests or calibrations for which accreditation
processes includes personnel, facilities, technology and is held. Proficiency testing programs are also used to
methodology that make up the process. The results of monitor accredited laboratories’ continuing performance.
inspection may be used to support certification.
The A2LA proficiency testing provider accreditation
A2LA recognizes the close relationship between inspec- program is designed for proficiency testing providers
tion, sampling, testing and measurement, yet under- who wish to demonstrate their competence by formal
stands that inspection includes a variety of activities not compliance with a set of internationally-accepted
covered in testing laboratory accreditation. Different but requirements for the planning and implementation of
related requirements are needed. A2LA is committed to proficiency testing programs. The program also provides
using the latest international standards and so uses as the users of proficiency testing programs (laboratories,
general requirements for this program ISO/IEC 17020:2012 accreditation bodies such as A2LA, technical assessors,
Conformity assessment- Requirements for the operation of government agencies, etc.) increased confidence that
various types of bodies performing inspection. A descrip- the PT programs being relied upon are being operated
tion of the accreditation process is maintained in A2LA’s competently in accordance with specified technical and
document titled R301 - General Requirements - Accredi- management system requirements.
tation of ISO/IEC 17020 Inspection Bodies. The inspection
body’s commitment to A2LA in pursuing accreditation The specific assessment requirements for this program
is documented in R102 - Conditions for Accreditation. are based on the requirements contained in ISO/IEC
Added requirements deemed necessary to clarify issues 17043, Conformity Assessment – General requirements
related to the use of the “A2LA Accredited” symbol on for proficiency testing. A description of the accreditation
inspection reports and the relationship of inspections process is maintained in A2LA’s document titled R302 -
versus tests and measurements that may be involved as General Requirements - Accreditation of ISO/IEC 17043
part of the inspection process are also included. Proficiency Testing Providers. The proficiency testing
provider’s commitment to A2LA in pursuing accreditation
Accreditation is based on the assessment of the perfor- is documented in R102 - Conditions for Accreditation.
mance of an inspection body including procedures, staff
competence and reporting. It is available to all types In 2014, A2LA was recognized under the APLAC Mutual
of inspection bodies including in-house services. A2LA Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for the proficiency
acknowledges that some user organizations may choose testing provider accreditation program.
to accept only inspections conducted by third party
(Type A) inspection bodies. It is up to such organizations A2LA has also been recognized by The NELAC Institute
to decide which accredited inspection bodies they will (TNI) as a proficiency testing provider accreditor (PTPA).
accept. By virtue of this recognition, A2LA is able to conduct
assessments to the stringent TNI requirements and offer
An inspection body may be an organization, or part of accreditation that covers all of the TNI fields of proficien-
an organization, but must be discretely identifiable in cy testing (including providers of Stationary Source Audit
order to be accredited. An inspection body engaged Samples). The A2LA TNI PTPA Program is based on TNI
in testing, measurement or sampling work may apply for EL Volume 3 – General Requirements for Environmental
accreditation for its work as a laboratory concurrently Proficiency Testing Providers.
with its application for accreditation for inspection.
A2LA recommends that, wherever possible, A2LA-accred-
A2LA welcomes applications for the accreditation of ited testing and calibration laboratories use accredited
all types of inspection work, including, but not limited to proficiency testing providers to meet the accreditation
those listed in Table 2. requirements for participation in proficiency testing.

Table 2. INSPECTION BODY ACCREDITATION FIELDS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS
* F ields and special programs with additional requirements beyond ISO/IEC 17020

Agricultural products Forensic Examination Textiles
Welding
Bulk cargoes Forged products Special Inspection*
Information Technology*
(e.g. coal, iron ore, petroleum) Gaming equipment FedRAMP*

Cargoes in containers and packages Mechanical equipment

Cast products Pipelines

Cranes Protective coatings

Electrical equipment Rolled products

Foods Structures

(e.g., concrete, steel, timber)