OBTAINING ISO/IEC 17020:2012 ACCREDITATION FOR TYPE A INSPECTION BODIES

Obtaining ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Accreditation for Type A Inspection Bodies involves several steps, guided by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS), the national accreditation body. 

ISO/IEC 17020:2012 specifies the requirements for the operation of various types of INSPECTION BODIES, and Type A refers to organizations that perform INDEPENDENT, THIRD-PARTY INSPECTIONS.

Below is an outline of the procedure:

1. Understand the Standard Requirements

The first step is to ensure that your inspection body meets the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020:2012. This standard outlines the general requirements for the competence of inspection bodies, the impartiality of the inspections, and their capability to provide reliable results.

Type A inspection bodies must demonstrate full independence and impartiality from clients, i.e., they should not have any conflicts of interest.

2. Prepare Your Inspection Body

Establish a Management System - Create a documented Quality Management System (QMS) that aligns with the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard. This system should address all the areas required by the standard, such as:

✓Competence of personnel

✓Impartiality and confidentiality

✓Control of inspection methods and equipment

✓Documentation and record-keeping

✓Continuous improvement mechanisms

Internal Audits and Review - Regularly conduct internal audits and management reviews to ensure that your inspection body is operating in accordance with the requirements.

3. Contact KENAS

Submit an Application - Submit your application to KENAS for accreditation. You will need to provide detailed information about your inspection body, such as its structure, scope of services, personnel qualifications, and a description of the inspection methods used.

Scope of Accreditation - Clearly define the scope of your accreditation. This will include the types of inspections you perform and the sectors you serve (e.g., construction, safety, quality assurance).

4. Pre-Assessment (Optional)

KENAS may offer a pre-assessment to evaluate your readiness for accreditation. This is an OPTIONAL step but can help identify areas that need improvement before the formal assessment.

5. Document Review and On-Site Assessment

KENAS will review the documentation you have submitted and will conduct an ON-SITE ASSESSMENT to verify that your inspection body meets all the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard.

The on-site assessment involves evaluating the COMPETENCE of personnel, examining your FACILITIES, inspection EQUIPMENT, and reviewing your DOCUMENTED PROCEDURES.

6. Address Non-Conformities

If any non-conformities are identified during the assessment, you will be required to correct them within a specified time frame. KENAS will review your corrective actions to ensure compliance.

7. Final Decision

Once KENAS is satisfied with your inspection body’s compliance to the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard, they will issue the Accreditation Certificate for your inspection body.

This accreditation will allow you to officially offer accredited inspection services under the recognized international standard.

8. Surveillance and Re-Assessment

After accreditation, KENAS will conduct regular surveillance audits to ensure that your inspection body continues to meet the requirements of the standard.

ACCREDITATION is typically VALID for THREE YEARS, after which a re-assessment will be conducted.

Key Documents and Information Needed:

✓Application form for accreditation

✓Evidence of compliance with ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (e.g., QMS documents, inspection procedures, competence of staff)

✓Details of inspection methods and equipment

✓A list of services provided and their scope

Contact Information for KENAS:

KENAS: The Kenya Accreditation Service is the governing body responsible for accreditation in Kenya.

Website: www.kenas.go.ke

Phone: +254-20-4939020

By following these steps and ensuring compliance with the relevant standards and procedures, your inspection body can obtain ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Type A accreditation in Kenya.

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