ISO 17020 Certification

WHAT IS ISO 17020 CERTIFICATION?

ISO 17020 is a standard that specifies an inspection body's competence and the objectivity and consistency of its inspection activities. Various bodies have developed ISO 17020 conformity assessment requirements to increase trust and consistency in their inspection activities.

ISO 17020 certification entails all actions taken by an inspection body, such as inspecting practices, procedures, and services to assess their conformity and reporting findings to the operation to foster trust in the organisations conducting the checks.

The initial categorisation of the inspection bodies took place in 1998 to enhance the inspection procedure. These categories were revised in 2012 and are as follows:

• Type A: An impartial inspection agency that only conducts inspections (independent of the parties involved)
• Type B: An inspection body that only performs inspections for the organisation that the inspection body is a part of
• Type C: An organisation that performs both first-party and second-party inspections, or both, and that is identifiable but does not necessarily provide inspection services to its parent organisation, other parties, or both.
  

BENEFITS OF ISO 17020 CERTIFICATION

ISO 17020 has several advantages. Some of the ISO 17020 benefits are listed below:

• Increases effectiveness of inspection processes
• Increases level of drive, cooperation, and skill
• Improves tool maintenance control
• Increases trust in inspection data
• Enhances credibility and recognition internationally
• Advises on how to analyse data
• Boosts customer trust in the quality of the results
• Gives an edge over the competition
• Helps gain market share
• Strengthens confidentiality
• Establishes your organisation among the top-quality inspection bodies in the global market

REQUIREMENTS FOR ISO 17020 CERTIFICATION

The ISO 17020 document of accreditation may be used as a prerequisite or screening document by any organisation desiring to perform inspections.

Some of the requirements of ISO 17020 are:

• For the activities to run smoothly, inspecting bodies must recognise and meet the standard requirements.
• Analysing the kind of examination that should be performed
• Choosing the type of evaluation based on how closely the standard is met
• Selecting knowledgeable and qualified individuals to carry out the inspection.
• Appointing technical and management personnel to analyse the technical requirements and manage the management system.
• Ensuring that the inspection report is thoroughly prepared and error-free.
• Analysing or studying the report to make sure it complies with the standards

WHY SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TÜV SÜD FOR ISO 17020 CERTIFICATION?

ISO 17020 certification enhances the reputation of inspection bodies as top-ranked on the global market and increases their credibility. TÜV SÜD has been a preferred partner for safety, security, and sustainability solutions for over 150 years. We have a unique methodology for focusing on the areas and challenges most critical to your organisation for standard compliance.

At TÜV SÜD, we provide the best consultancy solution to assist your organisation in meeting the ISO/IEC 17020 standard compliance. TÜV SÜD helps recognise and meet the standard requirements through several processes ranging from selecting the professionals that carry out the certification process to ensuring the certification report is thorough and error-free. Depending on how closely the standard is met, TÜV SÜD aids in selecting the type of assessment.

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