Global ISO 17025 Accreditation question

F

findrussel

#1
I am responsible for calibrations in seven (7) countries (USA, Germany, UK, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & India). We currently have ISO 17025 in the USA through A2LA and would now like to obtain accreditation in the other six (6) countries.

I think I have a three (3) choices and am looking for feedback on what you all think would be the best solution.

1. Get them all accredited under the US A2LA accreditation. Upside - 1 accreditation, easy to manage. Downside - cost of travel of A2LA auditor and local customers not accepting US based accreditation.

2. Get them all accredited in their own country for a total of seven (7) individual accreditations. Upside - each country has their own and no problems with customers. Downside - very difficult to manage and cost will be high for seven accreditations.

3. Have a total of three (3) accreditations - USA, Germany (our biggest European site) and India (where the growth is happening). Upside - European countries might be willing to accept German accreditation better than US, less cost than option 1 &2. Downside - a bit difficult to manage.

As you can see I am leaning toward choice three (3) but am not set on it yet. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Coury Ferguson

Moderator here to help
Staff member
Super Moderator
#2
I am responsible for calibrations in seven (7) countries (USA, Germany, UK, Netherlands, France, Switzerland & India). We currently have ISO 17025 in the USA through A2LA and would now like to obtain accreditation in the other six (6) countries.

I think I have a three (3) choices and am looking for feedback on what you all think would be the best solution.

1. Get them all accredited under the US A2LA accreditation. Upside - 1 accreditation, easy to manage. Downside - cost of travel of A2LA auditor and local customers not accepting US based accreditation.

2. Get them all accredited in their own country for a total of seven (7) individual accreditations. Upside - each country has their own and no problems with customers. Downside - very difficult to manage and cost will be high for seven accreditations.

3. Have a total of three (3) accreditations - USA, Germany (our biggest European site) and India (where the growth is happening). Upside - European countries might be willing to accept German accreditation better than US, less cost than option 1 &2. Downside - a bit difficult to manage.

As you can see I am leaning toward choice three (3) but am not set on it yet. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Welcome and a good first post findrussel. Specific enough for someone to address.

I can't help you here, since this isn't my specialty, but I am sure that someone will.
 
D

Duke Okes

#3
findrussel said:
I think I have a three (3) choices and am looking for feedback on what you all think would be the best solution.
1. Get them all accredited under the US A2LA accreditation. Upside - 1 accreditation, easy to manage. Downside - cost of travel of A2LA auditor and local customers not accepting US based accreditation.
2. Get them all accredited in their own country for a total of seven (7) individual accreditations. Upside - each country has their own and no problems with customers. Downside - very difficult to manage and cost will be high for seven accreditations.
3. Have a total of three (3) accreditations - USA, Germany (our biggest European site) and India (where the growth is happening). Upside - European countries might be willing to accept German accreditation better than US, less cost than option 1 &2. Downside - a bit difficult to manage.
Do you know that EU customers would not accept US accreditation? If so, just delete this option and simplify the decision. Have you talked with your customers about this? What have your competitors, or others with similar situations, done? What do you mean "difficult to manage?"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
J

JAltmann

#4
I would most likely go with multiple accreditation bodies, but who all subcribe to the MRA's (mutual recognition agreements) meaning they all agree to accept one another's accredition.

That way if you encounter a customer who does like a particular accreditation body you can site the fact that they are equally recognized by one another.

This may be harder with the India sites, those you may need a Eurpoean or Asian accreditation body.
 
F

findrussel

#5
I have not directly asked my customers if they would accept a US accreditation, but our locals have - whether true or not, I do not know (shame on me). Our competitors do not offer it and the few companies that I am aware of go with one accreditation and force their customers to like it or leave (not my favorite practice).
As for "difficult to manage" - the more accreditations the more work to ensure you are updating all of the documents globally and responding to local accreditation bodies. The local accreditation body in India may want something different than the one in the UK.
 

Jerry Eldred

Forum Moderator
Super Moderator
#6
I think it has been pretty well covered; but I'll add a few thoughts. First, Accreditation is not my specialty (my background is very broadly technical). So bear that in mind.

My initial gut reaction is that there is no "Silver Bullet" here. Unfortunately (as detailed in the previous replies), there are differing requirements and differing acceptable solutions in each of the countries.

If this were my cross to bear, I would converse in detail with each country and find out for certain the country-by-country needs/requirements. The answers may differ by country not only due to national accreditation rules/requirement details, but due to their customer needs.

There may be some mixed answer that would meet everyone's needs. That is, there may be some countries (perhaps) that could use one common accreditation scheme, and others that would need to be treated individually.
 

Hershal

Metrologist-Auditor
Staff member
Super Moderator
#7
The most effective is to sole-source with A2LA since you are already with them.

Europe and India will accept the accreditations, not because they really want to, but they do NOT have an option, unless they withdraw from EA, APLAC, and ILAC. Mutual recognition is a part of the MRA and they have agreed to it.

Should you run into issues, contact A2LA, who in turn will contact the resident AB who is supposed to straighten it out.....that is how the MRA works.

Hope this helps.
 
J

JAltmann

#8
You may want to survey your customers to see what their thoughts/objections are.

Basically your solution will either be easy and expensive (all A2LA), moderating difficult and moderately costly (2 or 3 different AB's) or cheap and difficult (many AB's in each country).
 
F

findrussel

#9
Thanks everyone for all the great info. I posted the same question on another, not to be named, quality forum and did not get one response. I now know where to go with my questions!
 

Coury Ferguson

Moderator here to help
Staff member
Super Moderator
#10
Thanks everyone for all the great info. I posted the same question on another, not to be named, quality forum and did not get one response. I now know where to go with my questions!
You could have mentioned it. I believe I saw something similar, in the ASQ Forum.
 
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