SLEMAN – The availability and roles of accredited testing laboratories are becoming more important. Moreover, the required quality of products is not only based on the physical form but also the formal documents thereof. The documents must state that the products are qualified under the stipulated quality standards. The certificates of testing results must be issued by an accredited laboratory.

In Indonesia, the institutions entitled to provide accreditation in the National Accreditation Committee (Komite Akreditasi Nasional). The procedures for the accreditation system and performance are regulated in the guidelines issued by the National Board of Standardization (Badan Standarisasi Nasional).

ISO / IEC 17025 is the standard requiring that most laboratories must have the accreditation to be considered as technically competent. In order to meet the standard laboratory criteria set forth as referred by ISO/ IEC 17025, the Central Language Laboratory of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta held a workshop called “ Implementation of ISO 17025” on Tuesday (11/7/2017).

The Head of the Language UPT (Unified Services Unit) and International Services of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Dr. Ir. RR.Rukmowati Brotodjojo, M. Agr, has said that in many cases the suppliers and relevant authorities will not receive any test results or calibration issued by a non-accredited laboratory. The two main components of ISO/IEC 17025 are Management Requirements and Technical Requirements.

“The Management Requirements are mostly related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system in the laboratory. The Technical Requirements include such factors determining the authenticity and reliability of the test and calibration performed in the laboratory. “To obtain the ISO/IEC 17025 is a lengthy process” Dr. RR Rukmowati said in reading the speech of Deputy Rector III in the Faculty of Mineral Engineering on UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta’s Condong Catur Campus.

In order to improve the services and to prepare for the accreditation of the laboratories existing within the premises of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta, a key note speaker was invited from the Senior Experten Services, from Germany, Dr. Gisela Blinde. In the workshop attended by the heads of all the laboratories at UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Dr. Blinde explained the requirements and procedures to obtain ISO 17025 for laboratories. She further explained that a Team consisting of administrative, financial and technical staff must be formed as a preparation for a laboratory accreditation.

“The laboratory to be proposed for an accreditation must be audited by an internal auditor first. When all the valuations are good, the laboratory may then be proposed to be investigated by an external auditor,” said Dr. Blinde in her seminar.

There were then 94 laboratories deployed in all the faculties of UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta and all of them were not accredited. (wwj/humas)