Accreditation is vital when choosing an equipment calibration company. It provides assurance of laboratories’ credentials and capabilities and confirms their position to produce accurate and reliable results.
As you research calibration laboratories, you should evaluate their credentials to ensure they can meet your needs in a compliant and effective manner. This article discusses what accreditation is, how laboratories are accredited and the benefits of working with an accredited calibration company.
In This Article
- What Is Accreditation?
- How Are Laboratories Accredited?
- Key Laboratory Accreditations and Certifications
- What Are the Benefits of Working With an Accredited Calibration Lab?
- Contact MicronPA for Accredited Calibration Services
What Is Accreditation?
Accreditation is where an independent third-party authority attests to an entity’s competence to perform a particular activity. It provides assurance that the entity, such as a laboratory, complies with the established industry standards and is positioned to deliver accurate results. Within the context of calibration, accreditation is a stamp of approval and typically the best indication that the laboratory has the quality and competence to perform metrology testing.
Accreditation and certification are sometimes discussed interchangeably, but there are differences. As explained, accreditation gives formal recognition that the laboratory is competent to perform accurate instrument calibration. However, certification involves verifying products, personnel or management systems according to established standards. In other words, accreditation legitimizes relevant certifications, while certification legitimizes the individual, organization, product or service.
How Are Laboratories Accredited?
The accreditation authority — typically the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation — audits the lab against established standards before granting accreditation. This audit is accomplished through a competent assessor or team of assessors who examine the laboratory’s management system and conformity methods, including:
- Process validation
- Equipment suitability
- Personnel competence
- Quality control procedures
The laboratory must demonstrate technical competence and establish that its processes and systems meet the specified requirements. The accreditation procedure is thorough, involving the following steps:
- Application
- Document review
- Accreditation assessment
- Corrective action and follow-up visits
- Accreditation decision
- Monitoring and reassessment
Key Laboratory Accreditations and Certifications
Below are the vital accreditations and certifications for instrument calibration laboratories:
1. ISO/IEC 17025:2017
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 specifies the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It promotes confidence in the laboratory’s operations and applies to calibration companies regardless of size.
The accreditation requires laboratories to plan and implement actions to address risks, helping establish the basis for achieving improved results, increasing the effectiveness of the management system and preventing adverse effects.
2. ANSI/NCSL Z540
ANSI/NCSL Z540.1 and ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 are supplemental accreditation programs to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. ANSI/NCSL Z540.1 specifies the requirements for calibration laboratories to control measuring and testing equipment to the highest national standards. The accreditation extends to quality system audits and reviews, handling of calibration items, calibration methods, certificates and reports, subcontracting, and complaints.
The supplemental accreditation requirements listed in ANSI/NCSL Z540.3 include calibration procedures, calibration of test and measurement equipment calibration, measurement assurance, measurement uncertainty, and traceability.
3. ISO 9001:2015
ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management designed to help organizations improve performance by demonstrating their commitment to quality. The certification also helps organizations meet client expectations. ISO 9001 implementation enables effective processes and staff training to deliver flawless products and services.
What Are the Benefits of Working With an Accredited Calibration Lab?
When choosing a calibration lab, you want to check that it meets your needs and budget — but you also need to ensure you’ll receive quality, accurate results. Here are five benefits of leveraging accredited calibration services:
1. High-Level Expertise and Professionalism
Accredited calibration laboratories employ highly skilled technicians to conduct operations. These professionals possess the required training and qualifications to execute complex tasks. They also have unique skills and experience in various industries that use calibration services.
Experienced instrument calibration engineers understand the processes and nuances in applications, making it easier to determine client’s needs and demands. Working with them also helps ensure you get value for your investment. Plus, they are likely to comply with industry standards if they’re trained in them.
2. Proper Equipment and Facilities
Instrument calibration involves the use of advanced technology and is necessary for achieving precise results and increasing the instrument’s overall performance.
Accredited laboratories invest in these state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for two primary reasons. First, implementing stringent environmental controls and utilizing advanced testing equipment are prerequisites for accreditation. Second, this equipment enhances the performance of calibration laboratories. Regardless of the motivation, customers can leverage these solutions to get precise measurements even under challenging conditions.
The best calibration companies provide on-site and laboratory equipment calibration. On-site calibrations offer flexibility and convenience for certain applications, and laboratory calibrations provide comprehensive testing capabilities for situations when an on-site approach isn’t applicable.
Accredited calibration facilities are designed to mitigate interference from external factors like humidity and temperature, which can impact the process’s accuracy.
3. Accurate and Reliable Results
Accredited laboratories undergo thorough assessments, mainly to ensure the accuracy of outcomes. This type of evaluation is especially crucial for heavily regulated industries such as automotive, aerospace, consumer products, defense, medical and pharmaceutical.
Proper calibration compares instrument readings with traceable standards at regular intervals. The results are reliable and can help identify deviations in the reading. Working with accredited professionals reduces costly errors and reworks arising from inaccurate measurements, which is vital for quality control purposes.
4. Enhanced Compliance
Accredited calibration laboratories understand what it means to maintain high standards, considering how strictly they are monitored and controlled. They must perform optimally at all times, which consequently helps most businesses achieve their compliance goals.
Accredited laboratories calibrate equipment according to industry standards, enabling you to demonstrate compliance during audits, inspections and certifications. They help you reduce financial and legal risks by detecting defective products early.
5. Quick Turnaround Times
Finding the balance between quick turnaround times and accurate results is vital in instrument calibration. While you want to speed up processes as much as possible, you must do so without compromising precision. Experienced calibration engineers streamline their processes to make this possible.
Turnaround times may depend on several factors, including the project size, complexity and location — whether on- or offsite. Even so, top calibration companies can work with strict deadlines, considering the availability of experienced technicians and advanced technology.
Contact MicronPA for Accredited Calibration Services
MicronPA is a full-service, family-owned calibration company and inspection laboratory with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We are accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation and possess multiple accreditations, including ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ANSI/NCSL Z540. We are also ISO 9001 certified.
We provide instrument calibration services to the aerospace, automotive, consumer product, defense, medical and pharmaceutical industries. We strive to offer the best possible services and work with customers to meet their unique needs. Get started by contacting us for a free quote today.
