ISO/IEC 17020 conformity assessment requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection have been developed in order to build confidence in the inspection bodies. Accreditation to inspection bodies is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition of technical competence for specific inspection, based on third-party assessment based on ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.
This international standard ISO/IEC 17020:2012 is drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2. ISO 17020 accreditation is managed by IAF MRA (International Accreditation Forum Multilateral Recognition Arrangement). IAF is engaged in development and updating of guidelines connected with accreditation activities. Such international arrangements facilitate acceptance of inspection results between countries to which MRA partners represent. On accreditation as per ISO 17020 standard of inspection bodies by such recognized body, the inspection report of inspection bodies gets global acceptance due to such mutual recognition.
The standard was initially published in year 1998 and then it was revised in 2012. At present the 2012 version is in the implementation. The ISO17020:2012 standard has categorized inspection bodies in three major categories as under:
The ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Accreditation Certificate is issued by accreditation body, which is authorized by IAF MRA to provide accreditation under the ISO/IEC 17020:2012. The ISO 17020 certificate is issued for a period of 2 years after successful completion of pre-assessment and registration (final) assessment. The certificate is valid till two years from the date of issue. Surveillance audits are conducted by the Accreditation body after one year. Upon completion of two-year cycle, at every two years renewal audit will be conducted without any periodic surveillance assessment.
ISO/IEC 17020:2012 is an accreditation, which is granted to the inspection bodies by an ILAC / APLAC approved accreditation body. It is an accreditation not certification like ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and other system certification.
Punyam.com is having vast experience in ISO 17020 consultancy for the implementation and certification of ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for all types of inspection bodies, such as container inspection bodies, fire door inspection bodies, grocery inspection bodies etc.In order to achieve this ISO 17020 Certification, organizations can take help from our ISO/IEC 17020 Consultant who has rich experience in the field of implementation of this standard.
Punyam.com, an ISO 17020 consultancy in Ahmedabad, India, develops the system for its customers in the following manners by ISO/IEC 17020 Consultan
1. Micro–level survey for each and every inspection parameter of the inspection bodies and preparation of detail Gap Analysis report,
2. Preparation of applicable documents required by ISO/IEC 17020:2012, based on detailed study of all activities of the inspection bodies, such as;
3. Preparation of Quality Assurance Plan for maintaining and assuring quality of inspection services provided to its customer,
4. ISO 17020 training to all levels of employees within the inspection bodies,
5. Help in effective implementation of system by periodic visit till accreditation,
6.Conduct internal audit for ISO 17020 system to check readiness for the accreditation,
7.Conduct management review meeting in presence of Top Management to guide the inspection bodies for effective implementation of all the issues related to inspection,
8. Witnessing / demonstration of inspection activities to build confidence among the employees, etc.
Inspection bodies have to identify the following technical requirements of ISO/IEC 17020:2012 during implementation:
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