ISO/IEC 17025:2017

ISO 17025 for Labs, Testing, Inspection & Calibration Services

ISO/IEC 17025 is the main standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. it applies directly to those organizations that produce testing and calibration results.
There are two main sections in ISO/IEC 17025 - Management Requirements and Technical Requirements. Management requirements are primarily related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system within the laboratory. Technical requirements address the competence of staff, methodology, and test/calibration equipment.

"Management system" refers to the organization's structure for managing its processes - or activities - that transform inputs of resources into a product or service which meets the organization's objectives, such as satisfying the customer's quality requirements, complying to regulations, or meeting environmental objectives.

ISO 9001 is a generic management standard that can be applied to any business enterprise, public administration, or government department.

Testing and calibration laboratories that comply with ISO 17025 will also operate in accordance with ISO 9001.

The Contents of ISO 17025

The ISO 17025 standard itself is comprised of 5 elements:

• Scope
• Normative References
• Terms and Definitions
• Management Requirements
• Technical Requirements

Elements 4 and 5 contain the actual accreditation requirements.

Accreditation Requirements

• Organization
• Quality system
• Document control
• Review of requests, tenders, and contracts
• Subcontracting of tests and calibrations

Technical Requirements

• General
• Personnel - Accommodation and environmental conditions
• Test and calibration methods and method validation
• Equipment
• Measurement traceability
• Reporting the results