IATF (or other) requirements for lab equipment and Sample security/access

[INCase]

Hello,

We are an automotive manufacturing plant that does some destructive testing on some of the components we produce.

I just recently took over our test lab supervision.
we were "told" that we need to have our lab space "secured".

Our labs used to have limited access but were moved for production needs (space) and have had no level of access restriction since including at one time having everything out in the open in the middle of the plant (horrible for dust)

In our plant we have locked access to scrap parts but management does not see/understand the need to have test samples and the equipment secured. we need to make sure the parts are not moved, damaged or tampered with to ensure reliable testing. > seems very logical to me.

A person within our company but outside our plant, that mentioned that we should have the test samples and labs secured does not know where that is mentioned (she referenced ISO 17025 but i did not see anything).

>>question. >So I am looking for some help on more concrete requirements/evidence I can present to our managers to get a secure location for the lab (they are moving the lab again)

Thank you!

 

[Golfman25]

My guess is you will not find that written in any standard. It seems like purely a business decision. If your testing is such that tampering with the samples will effect the results, then you have a pretty good business case for secured access. You may need to explain the details to the powers that be. Good luck.

 

[Enghabashy]

The main reference of ISO IEC 17025 as the following clauses :

1- clause 6.3 : environmental conditions

2-clause 7.4.1 : a procedure for the transportation, ---etc, --,storage, retention, and disposal test items

3- clause 7.4.4 items need to be stored or conditioned under specified environmental conditions

 

[Enghabashy]

Regarding the equipment ; the reference as clauses 6.4.3 & 6.4.4

 

[Johnnymo62]

ISO 9001:2015 section 7.1.5.2.c about measurement traceability talks about measuring equipment being safeguarded from adjustments, damage, or deterioration. This applies to automotive through IATF 16949:2016.