Presentation at AVIC-Workshop - Analysis of the operation of accreditation bodies in Europe
- Accreditation is one of the relevant tasks in a modern Quality Infrastructure, as the competence of conformity assessment bodies is assured through accreditation performed by accreditation bodies. To compare the operation of accreditation bodies in Europe and identify best practices a management tool was elaborated and validated by applying it to eight accreditation bodies. The tool made a comparison of the operations of the accreditation bodies possible, despite different sizes, operational processes and organizational forms.
The benchmarking project comprised three stages. In the first stage, the processes of accreditation bodies were systematically analyzed. A process map was developed and processes of special relevance for the performance of accreditation bodies were identified and underpinned by indicators. In the second stage, the processes of the German accreditation body Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) were assigned to the tool. This validation stage was used toAccreditation is one of the relevant tasks in a modern Quality Infrastructure, as the competence of conformity assessment bodies is assured through accreditation performed by accreditation bodies. To compare the operation of accreditation bodies in Europe and identify best practices a management tool was elaborated and validated by applying it to eight accreditation bodies. The tool made a comparison of the operations of the accreditation bodies possible, despite different sizes, operational processes and organizational forms.
The benchmarking project comprised three stages. In the first stage, the processes of accreditation bodies were systematically analyzed. A process map was developed and processes of special relevance for the performance of accreditation bodies were identified and underpinned by indicators. In the second stage, the processes of the German accreditation body Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) were assigned to the tool. This validation stage was used to check and modify the indicators when necessary. In the third stage, the transferability of the model was analyzed by extension to seven other accreditation bodies operating in Europe. The third stage of the project resulted in a workshop attended by experts from the participating ABs, which was used to discuss the results of the comparison and to identify best practices.…