Dimensional Mechanical Inspection only as a Service - ISO17025 or ISO17020

[Pretool]

We are an inspection lab who performs Dimensional Mechanical Inspection only as a service.

Should we get Accredited to 17025 or 17020?

It seems that 17020 is more specific to an inspection lab. Yet, all of the other local inspection houses are 17025.

[Jennifer Kirley]

Welcome to the Cove!

ISO 17020 is a standard guiding inspection operations, and ISO/IEC 17025 is a standard for calibration facilities. So, based on what little I know of you I would recommend ISO 17020.

I hope this helps!

[amanbhai]

Welcome to the cove!

Based on what you said, (on the basis of my expertise and experince), I would suggest you to go for ISO/ IEC 17020.

We are inspection, verification and testing company. Therefore, we are very much using both standards.

However, you need to accredit your organization by the accreditation body who determines the competency of your inspection body/ testing lab/ calibration lab for both standards.

[AndyN]

If you are performing dimensional measurements of products, then ISO/IEC 17025 is the correct document. What you are doing is not far removed from calibration, in actual fact. Your results are reported based on your knowledge of your own measurement capabilities etc.

ISO/IEC 17020 is for inspection organizations, not 'labs' as such, and not dimensional measurement - a terminological issue, but if you read the introduction to the document is a little clearer what the document applies to.

[amanbhai]

does the facility has the physical boundries?
facility maintains the environmental conditions?

[Hershal]

If the organization is performing only inspection related measurements then ISO/IEC 17020 may well work. This would be similar to frist article inspection for example. If you are independent of your customer (who you are doing inspections for) then you are a Type A inspection body.

ISO/IEC 17020 does include some direction regarding measurements and equipment, though I use the term direction rather loosely.

If you are also testing the item, then you need ISO/IEC 17025.

One other consideration, though how important it may be for you is unclear. The only mutual recognition currently for ISO/IEC 17020 accreditation is through the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), not through ILAC yet.

Hope this helps.