Finding an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory to perform calibration

[HokieJill]

Do you have a recommendation about finding an ISO certified company to perform some calibration work. Any resources that provide recommendations for outsource providers for this type of work? Thanks for your insights!

 

[harry]

Re: Is a Supplier Audit required for an ISO certified calibration company?

1. From your profile, I guess you are referring to labs with ISO 17025 accreditation.

2. These labs would have different lab-scopes, the type of expertise or calibration service they can provide. It would be better if you can name the instruments/device/equipment that you want to calibrate.

3. How about the location?

4. I moved your post to the ISO 17025 forum for better and relevant response.

 

[BradM]

Re: Finding an ISO 17025 accredited lab to perform some calibration work.

Not sure if I can contribute any more to Harry's post. If you are talking about 17025, it would depend on the scope. Also, are you willing to ship your products, or are you looking for somebody really close to you?

One thing you can do is ask some of your customers if they know a good shop. If you have any working relationships with your competitors and vendors, they too would be good places to ascertain referrals. If you have a local ASQ chapter, they too could help you out.

Sorry; I think I have asked more questions than answers given. If you would like, maybe give us a little more information, and we'll help out.

 

[Wesley Richardson]

Re: Finding an ISO 17025 accredited lab to perform some calibration work.

In your search for an Accredited calibration laboratory, be sure to check their Scope of Accreditation to make sure it include the type of device, and ranges of the device, that they will calibrate for you.

In the United States here are some of the major sources:

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
http://www.a2la.org/ Then click on "Search for A2LA Accredited Organizations"

NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
http://ts.nist.gov/standards/accreditation/index.cfm Then click on "Accredited Laboratories"

International Accreditation Service, Inc. (IAS)
http://www.iasonline.org/ Then click on "Calibration Laboratories" and then on "complete list of Accredited Calibration Laboratories"

ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ACLASS)
http://www.aclasscorp.com/ Then click on "Search Accredited Organizations"

Laboratory Accreditation Bureau (LAB) or (L-A-B)
http://www.l-a-b.com/ Then click on "Directory of Accredited Labs"

Wes R.

 

[Hershal]

Great answers, the only thing I might add is that there are six ABs in the U.S. that accredit cal labs to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and that are ILAC signatories, five have been given, the sixth one is PJLA http://www.pjlabs.com

 

[zamclachia]

We have been searching for a reliable lab to outsource samples to. Here is what we are doing:

• Check the scope of accreditation but don't take this at face value.
• Ensure confidentiality agreement is in place
• If possible submit reference material as own sample.
  • or submit the same sample on different occasions (Check repeatability and reproducibility)
  • or submit a spiked and unspiked sample.
• from experience, possibly the most important is to visit the lab and audit the methods you want to contract. Speak to the analysts to gauge their knowledge and understanding of what they are doing.
• Evaluate 5S in the lab. If 5S is poor or questionable, be careful.
• Determine how the lab monitors its processes and results etc.
• Evaluate past performance in proficiency tests. BUT remember that more effort is put into P-Test samples than routine samples.

 

[BradM]

We have been searching for a reliable lab to outsource samples to. Here is what we are doing:

• Check the scope of accreditation but don't take this at face value.
• Ensure confidentiality agreement is in place
• If possible submit reference material as own sample.
  • or submit the same sample on different occasions (Check repeatability and reproducibility)
  • or submit a spiked and unspiked sample.
• from experience, possibly the most important is to visit the lab and audit the methods you want to contract. Speak to the analysts to gauge their knowledge and understanding of what they are doing.
• Evaluate 5S in the lab. If 5S is poor or questionable, be careful.
• Determine how the lab monitors its processes and results etc.
• Evaluate past performance in proficiency tests. BUT remember that more effort is put into P-Test samples than routine samples.

Nice response. When you suggest "spiked/ unspiked" sample, do you mean samples with forced error in them? I am unfamiliar with the term spiked.

 

[zamclachia]

Coming from a chemistry lab, spiked would be as in a 'spiked drink'. Here it is far easier to adulterate a sample with a known quantity of analyte you want to evaluate.
With equipment requiring calibration I believe it may be possible to introduce a 'forced error'. If this is practical or not may be a new discussion thread.

Something I forgot. When looking for a service provider to perform calibrations, make sure you understand what your requirements are. As an example you may want an oven to heat to 156 deg. C +- 5 degrees. When selecting the service provider, make sure that they are able to exceed your requirements - I.E. Their measurement uncertainty must not border or be greater than your requirements. You may end up with a calibration for the oven 165 deg C +- 15 degrees.

Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table - There is only the element of surprise.

 

[samyfouad]

thank you but can you inform me about the calibration Labs in Egypt
samy

 

[zamclachia]

thank you but can you inform me about the calibration Labs in Egypt
samy

Can't help you there. Do a Google search.