ISO 17025 certification in Oman
ISO 17025 certification in Oman
ISO 17025 is the main standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. ISO 17025 is the standard for which most labs must hold accreditation in order to be deemed technically competent.
What is ISO 17025?
ISO 17025 is the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. It sets out requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of their testing and calibration results.
Laboratories use ISO 17025 to implement a quality system aimed at improving their ability to consistently produce valid results.
Why is ISO 17025 important in Oman?
This standard is vital for laboratories in Oman as it enhances the credibility of their testing and calibration work, fostering trust among clients and regulatory authorities. Compliance with ISO 17025 demonstrates a laboratory’s commitment to quality, technical proficiency, and scientific rigor.
Types Of ISO Certification In Oman
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“Benefits of ISO 17025 certification in Oman.”
There are a number of important benefits to achieving ISO 17025 certification. This includes:
- Institutions around the world can be assured of the quality of your practices and reliability of your results
- You meet the ever-growing demand for globally consistent data
- You can increase your reputation both internationally and domestically
- Meeting such a standard is often a prerequisite for tender application processes
- Your chances of achieving a preferred partner status are greatly increased with both prospective and current customers
- Have a clear advantage over your competitors who do not hold ISO 17025 accreditation
- You will be elevated to the same reputational standard as competitors who already hold certification
- You can reduce costs by implementing more efficient practices while also avoiding costly mistakes
- Time can be saved as numerous time-consuming tasks are automated
- Risks are proactively managed, heading off potential negative impact on equipment and services
- Centrally held documents and key information creates a single source of truth across your organization
- You will be set up to work towards continual improvement, driving positive results for a range of KPIs
What are the steps for implementing the ISO 17025 standard in Oman
Below are the steps to be followed for successfully implementing ISO 17025 standard:
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Obtain support of Management
Managerial support is at the epicenter of successful transformations within any organization. Adoption of a quality management system can be initiated as a result of many things (e.g. negative press, exposure incident, fatality). However, the decision to commit, allocate resources, and start implementation planning must be supported by management. -
Determine the context of the Organization
What will be the extent of your daily operations as it relates to ISO 17025? What testing methods will be within the scope of accreditation? Who will be your customer? Spend some time identifying what will be applicable to the ISO 17025 accreditation. -
Define Scope, Management, Commitment and Responsibilities
Define the Quality Policy, Quality Objectives and establish a quality manual. Identify what area of your daily activities are applicable to ISO 17025. Express the level of managerial commitment required and designate the person responsible for follow-up. Identify and document the commitment that will come from management. Clearly define and document the associated roles and responsibilities across the organization. -
Address Risks and opportunities
Risks and opportunities are areas that could potentially directly harm the organization, its reputation, customer engagement, or staff members. Once risks are identified, you want to take the time to identify mitigation steps needed. Evaluate current activities and determine what more could be done to lessen any identified risks. -
Define Processes and Procedures
Brainstorm and document the list of activities and methods performed within the laboratory. Develop instructions for how things are to be performed. Designate and assign responsibilities for the establishment of each procedure. -
Implement Processes, Procedures and Controls
Outline the plan for implementation and associate a timeline. Identify and share any new expectations for personnel. What changes will affect daily activities? What controls are now built into procedures? How will the organization ensure processes and procedures are being executed as written within the standard operating procedures? Develop a plan to monitor implementation and determine the effectiveness of procedures that have been established. Records should be generated and reviewed periodically. -
Perform Training and Awareness programs
All staff should be educated about ISO 17025, but they should also be educated on what is expected of them. When change is on the horizon a need for an information exchange is inevitable. Be sure to highlight the changes that will be applied to daily activities. Awareness programs can come in the form of committees or small groups that will help spread coming expectations. -
Engage with the Consultation body
Contact your consultation body. A consultation body provides the crucial support and the means for your laboratory to achieve certification through the assessment process. Start engaging with them. -
Operate the LMS
The Laboratory Management System as defined by the quality objectives and procedures is the core of all operations surrounding daily activities. Once the LMS is established you will want to keep staff educated on the requirements and review associated records to ensure the system is working as intended. -
Conduct Internal audits
Internal audits should be used to evaluate the quality management system against the requirements of the standard and against the standard operating procedures that have been generated. Staff should be aware of the intent of internal auditing practices and their established frequency. -
Management review
The frequency of these reviews is defined by your organization. The content within the management review should effectively address resources, risks and opportunities, nonconformance and all aspects of the management system functionality.
How do I get ISO 17025 certification in Oman?
Below are the steps of how you can obtain ISO 17025 certification
1
Initial consultation
Where our consultants understand your needs and execute a thorough strategy to implement the ISO 17025 standard.
Gap analysis
2
We assess your current operations against the requirements of ISO 17025 standard and identify the areas where improvements or changes are necessary.
Documentation and implementation
We assist in the preparation and implementation of the necessary documents, policies and procedures which are required as per the ISO 17025 standard. We then integrate these changes into your organization’s existing framework to implement the ISO 17025 standard.
3
Training and awareness
we help your employees better understand what ISO 17025 is, the requirements to implement it and the role of each individual to implement the standard successfully.
4
Internal audit
Our auditors perform an internal audit, which is similar to the final audit conducted by the third party to issue the certification. This helps to evaluate the implemented system’s efficiency and to identify any flaws in the process. This also gives an opportunity to correct those flaws and improve the process. It ensures your readiness for the external certification audits.
5
Management review
6
External certification audit
It shall be coordinated by us (the ISO consultants) through the accredited certification bodies. The self-governing auditors carry out this audit to confirm that your organization’s management system is as per the ISO 17025 standards requirements.
7
Certification and surveillance
After the external certification audit is successful, we help you in obtaining the ISO certification. This certificate is usually valid for 3 years, provided that an annual surveillance is done to make sure that your management system conforms to the ISO 17025 standard requirements and is in the process of continuous development.
8
Continuous improvement
9
FAQ
ISO 17025 is the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. It is vital for laboratories in Oman as it enhances the credibility of their testing and calibration work, fostering trust among clients and regulatory authorities. Compliance with ISO 17025 demonstrates a laboratory’s commitment to quality, technical proficiency, and scientific rigor.
There are a number of benefits you may get by implementing ISO 17025 standard. It establishes a global benchmark for laboratory quality and reliability. It enhances confidence in test and calibration results, both domestically and internationally. It facilitates cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results. It reduces the need for retesting, saving time and resources.
It provides requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories performing testing or calibration activities. ISO 17025 focuses on technical aspects, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of test and calibration results.
To earn ISO 17025 certification, you will need to successfully complete an Initial Certification Audit. After earning the initial certification, you will need to complete yearly surveillance audits and re-certification audits every three years to maintain your certification.
Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step towards ISO 17025 Certification with confidence.
