Overview
ISO 17025 is an International Standard that specifies the general requirements for competence to carry out tests and / or calibrations and defines what a forensic laboratory must do to become accredited to ISO 17025.
ISO 17025 applies to all laboratories performing tests and / or calibrations, regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing and / or calibration activities.
To obtain ISO 17025 Accreditation, your forensic laboratory must document a quality management system (QMS). The growth in the use of management systems generally has increased the need to ensure that forensic laboratories can operate to a QMS that is compliant with ISO 9001 as well as demonstrate technical competency. When ISO 17025 was developed, it was written to incorporate all the ISO 9001 requirements that are relevant to the scope of testing and calibration services as well as specifying the technical requirements for technical competence.
If your laboratory is accredited to (or complies with ISO 17025), it will also operate in accordance with ISO 9001, though you will not receive formal ISO 9001 certification.
There are two main clauses in ISO 17025:
- management requirements – these are related to the operation and effectiveness of the QMS within the laboratory, and this clause has similar requirements to ISO 9001;
- technical requirements – these address the competence of staff; testing methodology; equipment and quality; and reporting of test and calibration results.
Service Offering
FCL can help you in the following areas:
- developing and implementing a quality manual;
- developing and implementing a quality policy;
- developing and implementing forensic laboratory procedures for digital forensic case processing;
- developing and implementing quality procedures;
- developing technically competent employees;
- producing records demonstrating conformance with ISO 17025’s requirements.
FCL has implemented ISO 17025 in its own Forensic Laboratory.
Approach
Using the FCL approach to ISO 17025 Accreditation in a forensic laboratory covers:
- assist with corrective and preventive actions
- assist with the Accreditation process itself.
- define the scope of accreditation;
- develop and implement documentation to support digital forensic procedures in the laboratory;
- perform a gap analysis against ISO 17025;
- prepare for accreditation;
- undertake relevant training for your employees;
- undertake schedule of internal audits;
Benefits
- a positive reputation for your forensic laboratory having achieved ISO 17025 Accreditation;
- a public statement that your forensic laboratory has met the highest operational requirements for digital case processing;
- assurance of the accuracy and integrity of your forensic laboratory;
- competent workforce for performing tasks within your forensic laboratory;
- demonstrable compliance verified by a third party Accreditation Service;
- international recognition for your forensic laboratory;
- marketing advantage;
- processes and procedures for the operation of your forensic laboratory that are documented and tested;
- quality assurance of calibration data;
- rigorous quality processes that equate to fewer failures and errors.
- suitability, calibration and maintenance of test equipment;
- traceability of measurements and calibrations to international standards;
Next Steps
- FCL are justifiably proud of our 100% SUCCESS RATE, of achieving first time certification through an Accredited Certification Body for our Clients;
- FCL is committed to providing a consistently high value service to our Clients;
- David Lilburn Watson, who remains personally ‘hands-on’ throughout the process, manages this process.
- to understand how the FCL suite of offerings can be used to transform your business, please contact us
- we look forward to discussing your specific requirements, at your convenience;
- we offer a free Health Check for ISO 17025;
- whatever other type of consultancy you require, we can possibly offer a free Health Check.