8. Conclusion

Initial feedback from assessments shows that, while some laboratories have adopted modern quality management concepts particularly well, others have retained a rather old-fashioned vision, with a very extensive documentation system, structured according to the chapters of the standard, and a very large number of written procedures. This approach has two major drawbacks:

• a large number of provisions that sclerotize the system, even making it difficult to apply, with redundant wording that can be overlooked when revising documents;

• a system description that does not reflect the organization of the laboratory.

This is all the more unfortunate given that the rewriting of the system required a great deal of work, given the new presentation of the standard.

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