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Iso - Iec 17025
Iso - Iec 17025
fitness program
for your equipment Why calibrate? What is Accreditation?
ISO 17025
ISO 17025 is the single most important metrology
standard for test and measurement products. It is a
In today’s ultra competitive environment there is no
point using test and measurement equipment unless
you can be absolutely confident that its results are
accurate.
If you think of your test and measurement inventory as a
team of top athletes you soon realize how important it is for
And if your equipment is really out of shape your production line will stop
altogether, resulting in lost time. A rigorous calibration routine will not only
give you confidence that your measurements are accurate and your product
testing credible, it will help to prevent failures.
Suddenly, the calibration of equipment is no longer a simple engineering
issue, left to the decision of the technicians. Finance and procurement
personnel are understandably becoming involved in the decisions of “who”
Traceability Chart
Accreditation is a formal recognition process whereby an
authoritative body reviews and approves a calibration lab’s
quality system and technical competence. Each country has
its own accreditation body, for example NVLAP in U.S., UKAS
in U.K., JCSS in Japan etc.
All accreditation bodies use the ISO 17025 standard, but there
that are accredited, it is the specific measurement parameters
that you wish to make that are accredited. So it is possible to be
accredited for just one parameter over a specific range of
measurements, such as DC voltage at 0.9 to 3V for example.
Usually the smaller calibration labs have a smaller range of
accredited capability.
The accredited parameters are documented in the “Scope (or
them all to be performing to the best of their ability in order are some country-to-country variations in what they require.
schedule) of Accreditation” which includes approved parameters,
global standard for the technical competence of for you to be successful. and “how much?”. Caesium-Beam
Time-Frequency
Standard
Krypton-86
Length
Standard What does the “Scope of Accreditation” mean? ranges, and best measurement capabilities. It is therefore an
calibration and testing laboratories. Nearly all national For fitness in this case read accuracy. An inaccurate reading is As is usually the case in any purchase decision, you get what you pay for. First it should be established that it is not the calibration labs excellent basis upon which to compare different laboratories.
standards bodies and accreditation agencies around worse than no reading at all - you could be passing faulty Understanding what the variables are and how they can affect the quality Unit of Time
Interval
Unit of
Frequency
Unit of
Length
products which will be returned to you later, damaging your of the calibration will enable you to make the right purchase decision for SECOND HERTZ METRE
the world have adopted it. reputation, or alternatively, you could be failing perfectly good your company. Josephson
Junction Frequency Calculable
A growing number of companies require it and some products and consigning them to the recycle pile, wasting
valuable resources.
To find out more about these variables see the “6 dimensions of
Standard of
Potential
Comparator Capacitor Typical calibration deliverables
■ Calibration certificate and label.
Uncertainty – what is it?
industries have even incorporated it into calibration” below. ■ Measurement reports
Unit of
Potential
Unit of
Resistance
Unit of
Capacitance
Unit of
Inductance
The calibration supplier's measurement systems can
sector-specific standards. Find out VOLT OHM FARAD HENRY ■ “As received” data for all parameters (before any adjustments). never be perfect. Because of this, under ISO 17025 they
■ “As shipped” data for all parameters (after any adjustments). are required to calculate what is known as their
more about it and how it Standard Standard ■ Safety test label and tamper-resistant seals. ‘measurement uncertainty’ for each measurement
affects you here. Cells
Additional deliverables required for ISO 17025 conformance made – in essence the amount the actual value might
Solid State
Direct Voltage Unit of ■ Measurement uncertainties (these may be self-audited for vary from the measured value they provided to you. You
Current
Reference
Standards AMPERE ISO 17025 conformance) can then build this measurement uncertainty into any
The uncertainties must be calculated using the ISO Guide to the uncertainty calculations for your own measurements.
Unit of Standard
Direct
Voltage (DV) Power Direct Current Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (or GUM), and they must be Measurement uncertainty means that it is sometimes not
ISO/IEC 17025: 1999 is an international standard What are the advantages? Advantages for ISO 17025 - conformant vendors What is not covered by ISO 17025? WATT Shunts
provided for all parameters for which the calibration certificate applies possible for the calibration supplier to determine whether
for calibration and testing labs. It requires labs to Vendors need to confirm their quality and competence. The extent of testing for a given piece of equipment is
demonstrate that they: ISO 17025 - A global standard to provide AV to DV Unit of A Test Accuracy Ratio (or TAR, which is the ratio of the accuracy of the your instrument is in or out of specification. The smaller
Direct
calibration/testing consistency In the past there were several ways to do this – they not stipulated by this standard; it should be determined Transfer
Standard
Energy
JOULE
Current test instrument to that of the device being measured) is not acceptable their measurement uncertainty, the less frequently this is
■ Operate a quality system covering processes, could: in the contract between the vendor and the calibration likely to occur and the more confidence you can have
documentation and quality management system, and Advantages for companies using ISO 17025 - under ISO 17025, but is acceptable for calibration conformant to
■ Conduct an internal audit through their own quality buyer. It is not necessarily sufficient to request
conformant vendors Alternating AC to DC ANSI/NCSL Z540 and MIL-45662A. In this case measurement overall in the measurement information they provide you.
■ Generate technically valid results taking account of department – this had questionable credibility as it ‘calibration to manufacturer’s specification’. Voltage (AV) Transfer
as a way to ensure standardization. Several industries or measurement uncertainties helps to eliminate vendors Calibrator Calibrator Calibrator Calibrator Calibrator
Additional deliverables required for Accredited Calibration
As a result, companies gain a higher confidence level and be assessed against a common set of performing calibration for which they are technically On the subject of specifications, would you be able to
countries have incorporated it into their industry-specific requirements, overcoming both issues with the ■ Measurement uncertainties and guard bands (these must be audited for
or application-specific regulations, for example: in the calibrations they purchase, and international incompetent, but only because such practice is made define the difference between accurate and precise,
trade is increased by the reduction in potential previous situation. apparent by the evidence of the uncertainties. And ISO 17025 conformance by a recognized accrediting body).
TEST resolution and sensitivity, or instability and noise?
■ QS-9000 and ISO/TS 16949: quality standards for quality barriers. because the calculations are self-audited, uncertainties INSTRUMENT ■ Additional country-specific requirements from the local accrediting body
The following link helps clarify those distinctions:
the automotive industry. claimed may not be verifiable to an outside auditing such as specific test procedures, equipment, locations, personnel, etc.
■ FCC Part 15: U.S. government regulation for the body. To overcome that issue an Accredited calibration Manufactured ■ Special calibration certificate that includes the name and logo of the http://metrologyforum.tm.agilent.com/specs.shtml
Product
qualification testing of computers and peripherals. is necessary. local accrediting body.