American Association for Laboratory Accreditation ACCREDITATION TEST METHODS AND SCOPES Trace McInturff Telecommunications Certification Body Council (TCBC) February 2008 Workshop February 19 – 21, 2008 Bahia Resort San Diego, CA

Accreditation is… attestation conformity assessment bodyA third-party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks

Accreditation isn’t… guaranteeA guarantee on the validity of each and every test result

Assessors are… Fact finders Technical experts

Assessors are not… Police officers Accreditation decision makers

So, what is an accredited test?

ISO/IEC Requirements The accreditation body shall provide an accreditation certificate to the accredited CAB The accreditation certificate shall also identify the following: the methods used –the tests or types of tests performed and materials or products tested and the methods used.

A2LA General Requirements The scope of accreditation is normally identified in terms of standard test methods prepared by national, international, and professional standards writing bodies. If a laboratory desires accreditation only for a superseded version of a standard test method, the date of the version used is identified in its scope of accreditation. When the date is not identified in the scope of accreditation, laboratories are expected to be competent in the use of the current version within one year of the date of publication of the standard test method.

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method? Management System –Document Control – using the latest method –Internal Audit – technical audit of the method –Management Review Lab up-to-date with technology Staff up-to-date with technology Resources to support technology

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method? Technical –Competent staff –Laboratory facilitate correct performance of test –Appropriate method –Measurement uncertainty –Control of data

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method? Technical (cont’d) –Equipment –Measurement Traceability –Handling of test items –Quality control (PT?) –Reports

Matrix

Scope of Accreditation ILAC-G18:2002 formalprecise The scope of accreditation of a testing laboratory is the formal and precise statement of the activities which the laboratory is accredited for.

Scope Example Test TechnologyTest Method(s) Basic Test Method Standards (Emissions): Conducted & Radiated : ANSI C ; FCC OST MP-5:1986; EIA/TIA-603:1993; TIA/EIA-603:2001; CISPR 11:1990; EN 55011:1991; CISPR 11: A1: A2:2002; CISPR 11:2003 +A1:2004 +A2:2006; EN 55011: A1: A2:2002; EN 55011: A2:2007; CISPR 12: A1:2005; EN 55012: A1:2005; CISPR 13: A1:1998; CISPR 13:2001; CISPR 13: A1: A2:2006; EN 55013: Corrigendum 1; EN 55013: Corrigendum 1 + A1: A2:2006; EN 55013: A12: A13: A14:1999; CISPR 14-1: A1: A2:1998; EN : A1: A2:1999; CISPR 14-1: A1:2001; EN : A1:2001; CISPR 14-1: A1: A2:2002; EN : A1:2001+ A2:2002; CISPR 14-1:2005; EN :2006; CISPR 22: A1:1995+A2:1996; EN 55022: A1: A2:1997; CISPR 22: A1:2000+A2:2002; EN 55022: A1: A2:2003; CISPR 22: A1:2005; EN 55022: C1:2006

ISO/IEC Requirements 4.4 Review of requests, tenders and contracts –Policies and procedures methodsthe requirements, including the methods to be used, are adequately defined, documented and understood methodthe appropriate test method is selected and is capable of meeting the customers’ requirements

ISO/IEC Requirements Test reports –Each test report shall include at least the following information: method e) identification of the method used;

Endorsed Reports onlyWhile inclusion of the “A2LA Accredited” symbol on reports is not mandatory, only reports bearing the “A2LA Accredited” symbol can benefit from the acceptance established through mutual recognition agreements/arrangements among accreditation bodies.

Accredited? Request copy of their scope of accreditation Check Accreditation Body website

Have an Issue With Non-Accredited Testing Lab? Complain to the lab and hope for the best

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab? Complain to the lab –ISO/IEC 17025:2005 section 4.8 requires test laboratories to have a complaints process

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab? Complain to the Accreditation Body –ISO/IEC 17011:2004 section 5.9 requires accreditation bodies to have a complaints process

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab? Complain to one of the International Laboratory Accreditation Systems –APLAC ( –EA ( –IAAC ( –ILAC (

Mutual Recognition Arrangements ILAC EA APLAC IAACInter-American Accreditation Cooperation EAEuropean co-operation for Accreditation APLACAsia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation IAAC

Mutual Recognition Arrangements

This guy did not use an Accredited Testing Lab

Questions?

Contact Info Trace McInturff A2LA 5301 Buckeystown Pike Suite 350 Frederick, MD Direct line: Fax: