Laboratory Excellence and AccreditationISO/IEC 17025 Laboratory Quality Management Systems
Accreditation demonstrates technical competence rather than the existence of a quality manual, which is why laboratories that pass a certification audit comfortably can still fail this one. This course covers the difference. Delegates work through the structure of the standard and the impartiality and confidentiality requirements that open it, resource requirements covering personnel competence, facilities, equipment and metrological traceability. Process requirements follow: method selection and validation, measurement uncertainty, sampling, and handling of test items. Reporting results, opinions and interpretations are covered, along with the decision rules that govern a statement of conformity. Nonconforming work, complaints and corrective action are addressed. The course closes on internal audit, management review and the assessment itself, including the findings laboratories most often receive.
Course objectives
- Meet the impartiality and confidentiality requirements
- Demonstrate personnel competence and suitable facilities
- Establish metrological traceability for equipment
- Select and validate methods and evaluate measurement uncertainty
- Report results with defensible decision rules for conformity statements
- Handle nonconforming work, complaints and corrective action
- Prepare for assessment and avoid the most common findings
Who should attend
- Laboratory quality managers and technical managers
- Analysts preparing method validation packages
- Internal auditors of testing and calibration laboratories
- Laboratory directors pursuing or maintaining accreditation
Course outline
- 01Competence rather than a quality manual
- 02Structure, impartiality and confidentiality
- 03Personnel competence and facilities
- 04Equipment and metrological traceability
- 05Method selection and validation
- 06Measurement uncertainty and sampling
- 07Reporting, decision rules and conformity statements
- 08Nonconforming work, internal audit and assessment
Scheduled sessions
| Dates | Venue | Format | Price | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 to 9 October 2026 | Cape Town, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 4 to 6 November 2026 | Online | Online | R6,500 per delegate | Register Now |
| 18 to 20 November 2026 | Pretoria, South Africa | Classroom | R14,950 per delegate | Register Now |
| 2 to 4 December 2026 | Accra, Ghana | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 28 to 30 December 2026 | Lusaka, Zambia | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |
| 22 to 24 February 2027 | Kampala, Uganda | Classroom | USD 995 per delegate | Register Now |