ACLASS Accreditation for Proficiency Testing Providers
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quote
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Proficiency test provider accreditation
requirements
ACLASS is committed to superior accreditation services,
including those for proficiency test providers following ISO/IEC
17043 and/or domestic standards such as TNI Standard EL-V3-2008,
TNI Standard V1M2-2009, and the relevant elements of ISO/IEC
17025. (Click for information about TNI
PT provider accreditation)
The program provides users of proficiency testing programs
increased confidence that the programs being relied on are being
operated competently in accordance with the specified technical and
management system requirements. ACLASS accreditation processes
allow you the opportunity to assure your customers of your
compliance with international standards and international
recognition of good practices. Our policy is to accredit
proficiency test providers only to tests that have been approved
and published on the proficiency test provider scope of
accreditation.
Accreditation may entail any of a lengthy list of materials used
for critical and measurable properties in testing and calibration.
Much of the value for proficiency test provider accreditation,
however, relates to international confidence in the proficiency
testing schemes themselves. This leads to international trade
assurances and assurances that international guidelines are
followed in the production, labeling, and assignment of property
values to materials, including stability and homogeneity
determinations that are then factored in the proficiency testing
results reported.
As with our other programs, accreditation involves assurance of
technical competence and good quality management practices, but
also adds verification of the proficiency test management of the
provider. Our management and technical staff assure high-quality
service, integrity, independence, impartiality, confidentiality,
highly-trained experts and assessors, statistical expertise, and
unmatched customer service.
ACLASS maintains impartiality as required in Section 4.3 of
ISO/IEC 17011 (see also Responsibilities and Obligations of the
Customer, Appendix A of the ACLASS application for Proficiency Test
Provider accreditation). ACLASS management, staff, assessors, and
experts are free from any commercial, financial, and other
pressures that could influence the results of the accreditation
process for all ACLASS conformity assessment programs, including
the requirements of the TNI programs. Agreements and statements
(e.g., confidentiality agreements) exist for ACLASS management,
staff members, assessors, experts, and Accreditation Council
members.
Accreditation Process
Request a quotation from ACLASS. ACLASS charges for
accreditation services on the basis of the time spent and the
number of the types of proficiency tests as stated in ACLASS's
current fee schedule (available on request). More information
related to quotation and charges, including cancellation fees,
corrective action review, assessor travel time, etc., can be found
in ACLASS Document 3, ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation Requirements.
ACLASS will provide accreditation services to any customer who
applies, provided ACLASS has or can reasonably obtain the proper
credentials and resources.
Areas of accreditation include but are not limited to:
- Chemical analysis
- Environment
- Biological and clinical properties
- Dimensional measurement and inspection
- Dimensional, mechanical, thermodynamic, electrical
calibration
- Materials testing
- Metallurgy
- Others
An application is provided with each quotation. The application
packet should be submitted in electronic format, when possible, and
must include the following:
- A completed application form (including all relevant locations
to be covered by the accreditation)
- Quality manual
- Procedures and work instructions required by the standard
- Procedures and work instructions covering regional proficiency
tests, which shall include planned arrangements for test
supervision and confidentiality and determination that different
test or measurement methods for any measure are technically
equivalent, and the steps to assess participants' result using
these methods accordingly
- Organizational structure, specifically noting the persons or
organizations responsible for assigning the property values of all
artifact types related to the application for accreditation
- A list of all relevant experts, if applicable
- Completed draft scope of accreditation for proficiency test
providers, following the template provided in the application for
proficiency test provider accreditation
- A list of artifact suppliers
- A list of suppliers of calibration or verification
services
- An example report for each proficiency test for which
accreditation is sought
ACLASS accreditation activities shall be confined to the scope
provided with the application.
Upon receipt of the completed application packet signed by the
customer's authorized representative and fee, ACLASS reviews the
application to ensure it includes all information needed and to
make sure ACLASS has the proper accreditation credentials and
resources.
After final review of the completed application form, ACLASS
acknowledges receipt of the application and ensures that all
customer expectations can be met, particularly the customer's
desired scheduling. The customer and ACLASS work together to
determine assessment dates.
This diagram outlines the ACLASS accreditation process:
To learn more about ACLASS accreditation for proficiency testing
providers, send e-mail or call toll free
877-344-3044.
ACLASS provides accreditation for TNI Environment Proficiency
Test Providers.