2. Understanding the philosophy behind ISO/CEI 17025 (September 2005)

ISO/IEC 17025 "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" is an international quality management system (QMS) standard applicable to all laboratories, whatever their size, staff or field of activity. This standard is used by laboratories wishing to implement a quality system, and by accreditation bodies to assess the competence of these laboratories.

To better understand ISO/IEC 17025, it is essential to keep in mind that this standard is both :

• a quality management system standard. It contains 14 items of laboratory management requirements which, with the exception of technical competence, are included in ISO 9001. The implementation of such a quality management system guarantees the laboratory's customers that their needs will be met, and provides the laboratory's management...