1. INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE (IAS)
Conducting a Pre-Assessment
By: Mohan Sabaratnam, IAS Quality Manager
4th Annual Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Alliance (MFRPA) Meeting
&
Governmental Food and Feed Laboratories Accreditation Meeting
March 9-12, 2015
San Diego, California

2. Overview of Presentation
Provision under ISO/IEC 17011
Limitations of an AB
Selection of an AB
Advantages of Pre-Assessments
Preparing for Pre-Assessment or Initial Assessment
Accreditation Route
About IAS
Q & A

3. Provision under Accreditation Body Standard
ISO/IEC 17011: General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies
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4. Provision under Accreditation Body Standard
ISO/IEC 17011, Clause 7.5.1: Before the initial assessment, a preliminary visit may be conducted with the agreement of the CAB.
Identification of system deficiencies and/or competencies in CAB;
2) AB to avoid consultancy.
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5. The ‘No-No’ of an AB
ISO/IEC 17011, Clause 3.11: Definition of the term ‘consultancy’
Participation in any of the activities of a CAB subject to accreditation
EXAMPLES:
preparing or producing manuals or procedures;
participating in the operation or management of the system;
giving specific advice or specific training towards development and implementation of:
management system and/or competence of a CAB;
operational procedures of a CAB
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6. Selection of AB IAS—Signatory to the MRA/MLA
IAS is a ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatory for Testing, Calibration and Inspection.
IAS is a IAF Multi-lateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) signatory for Product Certification.
PAC Re-Evaluation completed in December 2014 for Product
PAC Evaluation completed in December 2014 for Management Systems

7. Laboratory Accreditation Standard
Laboratory Accreditation Standard ISO/IEC 17025: General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
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8. Advantages of a Pre-Assessment
Understand the AB Assessor(s) style and questioning approaches;
Eliminate any potentially unpleasant surprises at the initial assessment;
Pre-Assessment is a gap-analysis activity;
Assist to clarify any questions regarding the interpretation of the standard and AB accreditation requirements;
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10. Advantages of a Pre-Assessment
Identifying areas where competencies need to be improved;
Able to limit or propose an appropriate scope of accreditation;
Pre-applicant staff:
comfortable asking questions.
take time to think through their answers.
acknowledge any weak points in the system.
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11. Preparing for a Pre-Assessment or Initial Assessment
Participation in suitable proficiency testing program;
Conducting an internal audit;
Completion of management review;
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12. Preparing for a Pre-Assessment or Initial Assessment
Establishing the procedure for estimating measurement uncertainty;
Completing a measurement uncertainty budget for at least one test method;
Providing an Awareness training to all personnel.
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13. IAS Accreditation Route
Conduct Pre-Assessment (optional)
Fix identified deficiencies
Submit Application for Accreditation
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14. Fix identified Deficiencies or else
“We didn’t allow for wind again….”
… learning from your mistakes

15. IAS Accreditation Route
Initial Assessment
12 months
Surveillance Assessment (Mandatory)
24 months
Re-Assessment (Mandatory)
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16. International Accreditation Service - History
1975
ICBO-ES (IAS established)
Apr 1999-Oct 2000
APLAC and ILAC MRA signatory
March 2002
IAS incorporated as a nonprofit, public benefit corporation
Jan 2003
IAS transition into ICC as wholly owned subsidiary
May 2011
IAS achieves
IAF and PAC MRA recognition
(567 accreditations)
Summer 2013, Spring 2014,
February 2015
Continued growth at domestic and international levels with wide regulatory acceptance
(706 accreditations)

17. IAS Growth
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18. IAS Accreditation Infrastructure
IAS BOARD OF DIRECTORS appoints all AC, TAC and staff members sitting on these committees
AC is supported by TAC and IAS staff
TAC is supported by IAS staff and management team
IAS Staff/Assessors /Experts
IAS
BOARD
Accreditation Committee (AC)
7 Technical Advisory Councils (TAC)

19. Q & A
Thank you