Accreditation of Inspection Bodies – ISO 17020
The international standard for inspection and inspection bodies ISO 17020 helps organizations, companies, and various bodies to increase confidence in the inspection and inspection reports issued by them, as a specialized team of consultants and experts capable of qualifying all types of inspection bodies to obtain international accreditation according to the requirements of the international standard ISO 17020 and pass the evaluation review.
Verifying the technical competence of inspection bodies to perform specific types of inspection services such as elevator and stairs inspection, amusement parks inspection, and other inspection services provided by these bodies. The center accredits inspection bodies following the international standard ISO/IEC 17020 (General requirements for the accreditation of inspection bodies), which gives inspection bodies’ clients confidence in the quality of provided services.
Bodies obtain accreditation from internationally recognized bodies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This accreditation is considered a reliable indicator of the efficiency of control and inspection. Obtaining this accreditation requires a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the inspection body, including the technical competence of employees, qualifications, training, and experience. This accreditation confirms the body’s ability to manage control operations following the highest international standards.
Inspection Bodies
Examine the design of a product or the product itself, service, process, or factory, and determine the extent of its compliance with specific or general requirements. The inspection body must be officially registered and operate legally according to the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, it must have documents that clarify its functions and the technical scope of the activity it specializes in. The international standard ISO/IEC 17020:2012 specifies “Conformity Assessment – Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection” Requirements for the competence of inspection bodies and the integrity and consistency of their inspection activities, applicable to type A, B, or C inspection bodies, as defined in ISO/IEC 17020:2012, and functional to any stage of the inspection. The existence of a recognized mechanism in the Kingdom and internationally has become an urgent requirement, especially in light of working according to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Accordingly, the concept of accreditation emerged, which ensures the efficiency of the quality system according to a set of international standards to give confidence in the conformity assessment bodies from the grantors of the inspection and examination certificates that are issued, as accreditation provides confidence in the certificate and inspection reports issued by the inspection bodies according to the international standard ISO / IEC 17020:2012 “Conformity assessment – requirements for the work of various inspection bodies”
Implementing the ISO 17020 system
- Receiving the request to prepare and qualify the inspection body to implement ISO 17020
- Studying the request and determining the type of body, whether A, B, or C, and submitting a technical and financial offer
- Conducting a study of all the operations and activities of the inspection body and analyzing the gap between the current situation and the desired situation to be reached
- Training employees in the inspection body to raise awareness of the requirements of ISO 17020
- Preparing documents for the operating system of inspection bodies according to ISO / IEC 17020
- Implementing the documented system and finding physical evidence of the application
- Conducting an internal review and qualifying the team’s Internal Audit
- Conducting a simulation of the assessment by the accreditation body to identify and correct non-conformities
- Calling the accreditation body to conduct an accreditation visit
Benefits of implementing the ISO 17020 system and obtaining accreditation
- Improving efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness in all the operations of the inspection and examination body
- Improving the level of motivation, cooperation, teamwork, and quality mastery including the efficiency of individuals and inspectors
- Increasing confidence in the results and decisions of the inspection, and expanding the culture of the employees and inspectors performing the work
- Increasing control and supervision over all the operations and activities of the inspection body
- Reducing the time and money wasted due to reducing or eliminating the need for re-inspection / re-work etc.
- Providing advice on data analysis as well as maintaining the ideal record.
- Providing better guidance and control for equipment maintenance, maintaining inspection records, etc.
- The trust of management and customers in the results and reports and increasing customer trust and market share.
- Better image of inspection bodies as quality inspection bodies in the global market.
- Global recognition and credibility.
- An inspection body accredited by ISO 17020:2012 has a clear advantage over competitors.
Who is this service for?
- Inspection agencies
- Private or governmental inspection bodies
- Remote field operations facilities and temporary inspections
- Graduates of science and engineering colleges and scientific-technological specializations interested in the field of inspection and certification of products
- Workers in factories and companies that use inspection services or wish to do so.
- Quality managers in factories and companies wishing to develop their skills to carry out inspection operations and choose an inspection body
- Workers as experts and consultants in the field of quality or as inspectors
Inspection bodies interested in obtaining international accreditation
- Meat and dairy products inspection bodies and other food products
- Environmental inspection and audit bodies
- Pre-shipment inspection bodies
- Inspection bodies for factories, hotels, hospitals and companies
- Inspection bodies for oil and gas facilities
- Inspection bodies for mechanical machinery, and non-destructive testing
- All bodies working in the field of inspection and inspection
- Inspection bodies for products and electrical extensions
- Inspection bodies for pressure equipment, boilers, and used cars
Guidance for Consulting and Training
Pioneers of management consulting, excellence, institutional development, and internationally accredited training according to the Saudi Standards and Quality Organization requirements, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and other accredited bodies that impose legal and mandatory requirements in the Saudi market.