Consulting on upgrading ISO 17025:2017

1. Issue ISO 17025:2017 standard

December 1, 2017 - The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) officially issued the 2017 version of the ISO 17025 standard - International standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017 - General requirement for the competence of testing and calibration laboratory.

ISO/IEC 17025 - The most popular standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories has just been reissued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) with modifications related to recent environmental changes and laboratory practices.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, is an international standard applicable to laboratories performing testing and calibration activities globally.

(If you are interested - download the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard here : Download tiêu chuẩn ISO/IEC 17025:2017)

Providing valuable and widely trusted results is experimental activities' core and central issue. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard was issued to support laboratories in implementing a quality management system that applies to the laboratory and demonstrates that the laboratory has the technical capacity to produce valid and reliable test results.

The ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard helps promote collaboration between laboratories and other organizations through widespread acceptance of results across countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without requiring further testing, thereby facilitating international trade.

To adapt to recent changes in market conditions and technology, the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard is issued with updated content on activities and new working methods applied in laboratories. The standard covers technical changes, vocabulary, and IT technical developments and refers to the latest version of the quality management system standard, ISO 9001:2015.

2. Main changes in ISO/IEC 17025:2017 version:

- The scope has been revised to include testing, calibration activities, and sampling associated with subsequent testing and calibration work.

- The "Process approach" is now compatible with new standards such as ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 15189 (quality in medical laboratories), and ISO/IEC 17021-1 (requirements for certification bodies).

- Stronger focus on information technology and incorporation of the use of computer systems, electronic records, and electronic reporting and results generation.

- Include a new chapter introducing the concept of "Risk-based thinking".

Laboratories accredited according to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 need to convert their management system accordingly to the new version of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 within 3 years from its issuance in November 2017.

3. Request the laboratory to update the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 version from the Quality Accreditation Office:

Currently, in Vietnam, the majority of laboratories are accredited by the Bureau of Accreditation (BoA). We would like to update BoA's announcement on the conversion to ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 version as follows:

Announcement of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 conversion process

TO: LABORATORY

To facilitate the transition to the new standard ISO/IEC 17025: 2017, the Quality Accreditation Office (CNCL) would like to announce the conversion plan and application of the new version for registered laboratories. Sign the acknowledgment as follows:

- From June 1, 2018, the CNCL Office began to receive assessment and accreditation of laboratories according to the new version of ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 Standard.

- Laboratories that have not yet built or converted to the new version can apply for assessment according to the old version of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (TCVN ISO/IEC 17025:2007) until December 31, 2018.

- From January 1, 2019, the CNCL Office will only accept new applications for accreditation assessment according to the ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 Standard version.

- For laboratories that have been newly assessed/re-evaluated/monitored by the CNCL Office in 2018 according to the old version of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (TCVN ISO/IEC 17025:2007), the meeting will The next assessment in 2019 will require a conversion assessment to the new version ISO/IEC 17025: 2017.

- Certificates issued by the CNCL Office according to the old version of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 will only be valid until November 29, 2020.

4. Consulting and training services to upgrade the quality management system in laboratories according to ISO 17025:2017.

ITVC Global's services serve to upgrade the quality management system in laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017:

a) Consulting services for upgrading ISO/IEC 17025:2017

Phase 1: Preparation

- Survey the quality management system at the laboratory, compare it with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, and prepare a survey report.

- Make a specific plan to implement the project

- Training on awareness and interpretation of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard

Phase 2: Upgrading documents

- Instructions for upgrading documents

- Add/maintain written information (new documents) appropriate to the scale and level of application.

- Assign editing documents to each functional department and person in charge.

- Complete the documentation system

Phase 3: Deploy and apply the quality management system

- Approve and issue the document system

- Instructions for applying and operating processes

- Training on Internal Audit skills according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017

- Instructions on implementing Internal Assessment at the laboratory and corrective actions after internal assessment

- Guide on conducting management reviews on the effectiveness and efficiency of the quality management system

Stage 4: Evaluation and Recognition

- Instructions for preparing dossiers and documents for accreditation assessment

- Evaluate and upgrade the quality management system

- Fix non-conforming points after the accreditation assessment

- Laboratory received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certificate - Project completion.

b) Training services to upgrade ISO/IEC 17025:2017

ITVC Global provides the following training service packages:

- Training on awareness and interpretation of the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017

- Training on internal audit skills according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017

- Instructions for establishing documents according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017

To request consulting and training services to upgrade ISO/IEC 17025:2017- Contact us to receive advice on useful information and the best service:

ITVC GLOBAL LIMITED

6th Floor Commercial Building, No. 22 Ly Tu Trong, Minh Khai Ward, Hong Bang District, Hai Phong City.

Tel: 02253 261 208 - Hotline: 0914 564 579

Fax: 02253 292 718

Email: itvc.haiphong@itvc-global.com