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ISO 9001 or ISO 17025 : what is more important for the metrology laboratory

In the last decade, the number of Portuguese companies with quality certiÞ cation has increased, as is the case in most countries. According to the ISO 9001 standard all the certiÞ ed companies should calibrate their measuring equipment. By doing so, companies can guarantee, with rigor and quality, its measurement and use reliable data for monitoring the quality of its products and its improvement. However, a metrology laboratory is not required to hold an ISO 9001 certiÞ cation or ISO 17025 accreditation. In this moment, there are companies that have metrology laboratories to conduct an internal check of their measuring equipment. These companies have their quality management systems (QMS) certiÞ ed according to the ISO 9001 standard and so all its departments and sub-departments must also comply with the requirements of this standard. On the other hand there are companies with ISO 17025 accredited laboratories. Usually these companies are independent and his metrology laboratory is essentially to perform the calibration service to national companies who use their services to make the calibration of its measuring devices. These labs can be inserted into a company which does not have their QMS certiÞ ed by any national or international standard. Finally, there are companies that have their QMS certiÞ ed to ISO 9001 and also its metrology laboratory accredited by ISO 17025. In this case the metrology lab must comply with the requirements of both standards. Thus, the aim of the research project is to analyze, in Portugal, the importance level of ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 standards for a metrology laboratory to reach the quality

Certificação e acreditação: duas perspectivas num laboratório de metrologia

Na última metade do século passado, o número de organizações Portuguesas com certificação da qualidade tem aumentado, tal como tem sucedido na grande maioria dos países. De acordo com a norma ISO 9001, todas as organizações certificadas devem calibrar os seus equipamentos de medição. Para isso as organizações recorrem a laboratório de metrologia. Atualmente existem organizações/entidades com os seus Sistemas de Gestão da Qualidade (SGQ) certificados pelo referencial ISO 9001 e que possuem laboratórios de metrologia. Por outro lado, existem também entidades com laboratórios acreditados pela norma ISO/IEC 17025. Por fim existem as organizações/entidades que têm o seu SGQ certificado pela norma ISO 9001 e também o seu laboratório de metrologia acreditado pela norma ISO/IEC 17025. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho de investigação é o de analisar o nível de importância das normas ISO 9001 e ISO/IEC 17025 para um laboratório de metrologia a fim de alcançar a qualidade e a melhoria contínua. Dos dados obtidos através dos casos de estudo investigados conclui-se que a certificação segundo a norma ISO 9001 é uma abordagem importante para os laboratórios que efetuem calibrações/verificações internas, enquanto que a acreditação segundo a norma ISO/IEC 17025 é o reconhecimento mais importante para os laboratórios de metrologia. Contudo, caso os laboratórios trabalhem de acordo com a norma ISO 9001 e a norma ISO/IEC 17025 conIn the last half century, the number of Portuguese companies with quality certification has increased, as is the case in most countries. According to the ISO9001 standard all the certified companies should calibrate their measuring equipment. For that, the organizations make use of the metrology laboratory. In this moment, there are companies with their Quality Management Systems (QMS) certified according to the ISO 9001 standard who have metrology laboratories. On the other hand there are companies with ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories. Finally, there are companies that have their QMS certified to ISO 9001 and also its metrology laboratory accredited by ISO/IEC 17025. Thus, the aim of the research project is to analyze, the importance level of ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 standards for a metrology laboratory to reach the quality. From the data obtained by the case studies investigated, we conclude that the certification according to standard ISO 9001 only contributes for laboratories that carry out internal calibrations/checks, while the accreditation according to ISO/IEC 17025 is the most important recognition for metrology laboratories, but if the laboratories work in accordance with standard ISO 9001 and the standard ISO/IEC 17025, they can report more effectively the quality of the laboratory services

ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 standards in a metrology laboratory

In the last decade, the number of companies with quality certification has increased in most countries. According to the ISO 9001 standard all the certified companies should calibrate their measuring equipment. By doing so, companies can guarantee, with rigor and quality, its measurement and use reliable data for monitoring the quality of its products and its improvement. However, a metrology laboratory is not required to hold an ISO 9001 certification or ISO 17025 accreditation. In this moment, there are companies that have metrology laboratories to conduct an internal check of their measuring equipment. These companies have their quality management systems (QMS) certified according to the ISO 9001 standard and so all its departments and sub-departments must also comply with the requirements of this standard. On the other hand there are companies with ISO 17025 accredited laboratories. Usually these companies are independent and his metrology laboratory is essentially to perform the calibration service to national companies who use their services to make the calibration of its measuring devices. These labs can be inserted into a company which does not have their certified QMS. Finally, there are companies that have an ISO 9001 QMS and also a metrology laboratory accredited by ISO 17025 standard. In this case the metrology laboratory must comply with the requirements of both standards. With this research project we intend to analyze the importance level of ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 standards for a metrology laboratory in order to reach the organizational excellence

Dynamics of yeast populations recovered from decaying leaves in a nonpolluted stream: a 2-year study on the effects of leaf litter type and decomposition time

Here we report on the results of a survey of the yeast populations occurring on submerged leaves (alder, eucalyptus and oak) in a natural mountain stream, during different phases of their decomposition and through two consecutive years. Leaf litter mass loss, total yeast counts, Shannon-Weiner index (H'), yeast community structure and physiologic abilities were analyzed to evaluate the dynamics of yeast communities during decay. Seventy-two yeast taxa were recorded, and in all litter types, species of basidiomycetous affinity predominated over ascomycetous ones. Discriminant analysis of presence/absence data (yeast species) showed significant differences both among substrate types (P<0.0026) and with decomposition time (P<0.0001). Carbon and nitrogen source utilization by yeast strains also varied with the substrate (P<0.0001) and decomposition time (P<0.0001). Further conclusions were that: (1) all litter types have in common ubiquitous yeast species, such as Cryptococcus albidus, Debaryomyces hansenii and Rhodotorula glutinis, among the common 20 yeast species; (2) only a few species were dominant, and most species were rare, being recorded once or twice throughout decomposition; and (3) the order of yeast appearance, and their substrate assimilation patterns, strongly suggest a succession phenomenon. Finally, explanations for the distribution patterns and variations in yeast communities are discussed

Maturity models: a useful solution to assess current OHS management system

Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) are implemented worldwide and by an increasing number of companies. Usually this management sub-system is not the first one to be implemented and is seldom the only management sub-system implemented by a company. Therefore, the OHSMS performance is most appropriately assessed if one considers it within an integrated management system (IMS) and, usually co-existing, with a quality management sub-system (QMS) and/ or an environmental management sub-system (EMS). Furthermore, OHSMS actions are often, if not always, constrained by quality and/or environmental requirements. The dynamics of complex systems, such as IMS, have been targeted by numerous researchers in different scientific domains. All of them pointed out that these systems are characterised by a non-linear behaviour and a large amount of variables often related to each other. Maturity models have been adopted to minimise our complexity perception over a truly complex phenomenon. In this sense, maturity models are tools based on a non-deterministic methodology, which enable the assessment by the identification of the most relevant variables that influence their outputs. Ideally, besides this identification, a maturity model should provide information concerning the qualitative and quantitative relationships between variables and how they affect the latent variable, i.e. the maturity level of the maturation object. Regarding OHSMS (maturation object) assessment, one may assess it based solely on OHSMS indicators, but further improvement actions should also rely on the contributions of other implemented management sub-systems, thereby reflecting an integrated context. This fact reformulates the purpose of OHSMS within a company and demands a systemic vision by the OHSMS manager. Some other issues should be considered, too, such as the implementation of integrated indicators, audits and procedures, and the harmonisation through adoption of a common ‘language’ between the sub-systems. Some features concerning the intrinsic philosophy from each sub-system may be benchmarked for the remaining sub-systems, as the systematic risk approach that characterises the OHSMS. It is intended in this paper to report several maturity-model characteristics that enable such models to act as suitable tools for assessing management systems’ maturity and, specifically, that of the OHSMS. Additionally, it is also intended to synthetise all the main features found in the literature review performed, namely: which are the key questions to consider prior to model definition; which limitations should be expected; the definition of the main relevant concepts, such as maturity, capability, maturation and maturation object; and the classification of existing maturity models. Finally, a maturity model enabling integrated management systems assessment will be presented, as well the main advantages of adopting this model, concerning OHSMS features. This model, based on front-office and back-office components, considers the key process agents (KPAs) identified through a systematic literature review, and by the conduct of several case studies of companies, as well as the qualitative and quantitative relationships between these variables and their contribution to the latent variable (IMS maturity level). Ultimately this model translates the OHS management sub-systems’ current reality – namely, the fact that their implementation and daily management are not independent from other management sub-systems and their requirements

Integrated management systems as complex adaptive systems

It is a difficult task to avoid the “smart systems” topic when discussing smart prevention and, similarly, it is a difficult task to address smart systems without focusing their ability to learn. Following the same line of thought, in the current reality, it seems a Herculean task (or an irreparable omission) to approach the topic of certified occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS) without discussing the integrated management systems (IMSs). The available data suggest that seldom are the OHSMS operating as the single management system (MS) in a company so, any statement concerning OHSMS should mainly be interpreted from an integrated perspective. A major distinction between generic systems can be drawn between those that learn, i.e., those systems that have “memory” and those that have not. These former systems are often depicted as adaptive since they take into account past events to deal with novel, similar and future events modifying their structure to enable success in its environment. Often, these systems, present a nonlinear behavior and a huge uncertainty related to the forecasting of some events. This paper seeks to portray, for the first time as we were able to find out, the IMSs as complex adaptive systems (CASs) by listing their properties and dissecting the features that enable them to evolve and self-organize in order to, holistically, fulfil the requirements from different stakeholders and thus thrive by assuring the successful sustainability of a company. Based on the revision of literature carried out, this is the first time that IMSs are pointed out as CASs which may develop fruitful synergies both for the MSs and for CASs communities. By performing a thorough revision of literature and based on some concepts embedded in the “DNA” of the subsystems implementation standards it is intended, specifically, to identify, determine and discuss the properties of a generic IMS that should be considered to classify it as a CAS

Latest developments aiming an integrated management systems tool focusing maturity assessment

Publicado em "Proceedings of the 2012 IEEE IEEM"Integrated management systems (IMS) widespread among companies due to the release, by international entities, of management sub-systems implementation standards. The integration level achieved by the IMS varies from company to company. Rating the integration level is crucial information. Maturity models have been implemented in several business, product development and in management sub-systems context in order to guide the company to an ultimate excellence level. An IMS maturity model development is, currently, aimed by researchers and a real need in companies. It is intended in this paper to report the efforts that are being made and the methodologies that are being followed to develop such a model. Additionally, it is also intended to present a preliminary model version

Integração de sistemas de gestão. Dados preliminares do projecto para desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para avaliação do nível de maturidade e eficiência

A integração de sub-sistemas de gestão num único sistema, enquadrado numa perspectiva holística, focando diversos requisitos de diferentes partes interessadas é, nos dias de hoje, uma realidade organizacional assumida por grande parte das empresas. Diversos estudos publicados (Wilkinson e Dale, 1999; Wright, 2000; Renzi e Capelli, 2000; Karapetrovic, 2003; Poksinska et al., 2003; Karapetrovic e Jonker, 2003; Zutshi e Sohal, 2003/2005; Beckmerhagen et al., 2003a,b; Zeng et al., 2005; Jorgensen et al., 2006; Bourcier et al., 2007; Salomone, 2008; Kraus e Grosskopf, 2008; Bernardo et al., 2008; Karapetrovic e Casadesús, 2009; Campos e Medeiros, 2009; Asif et al., 2010; Okrapilov, 2010; Tarí et al., 2010; Bernardo et al., 2010; Zeng et al., 2011) prendem-se com esta questão nomeadamente em como implementar um sistema integrado de gestão (SIG), qual o nível de integração atingido, como realizar auditorias a SIG, quais os requisitos necessários para o sucesso da integração, quais as resistências expectáveis e como envolver todas as partes interessadas neste processo. Os dados mais recentes a nível mundial, publicados pela ISO Survey em 2010, revelam que continuam a aumentar quer o número de países com organizações certificadas pelas normas ISO 9001 e ISO 14001, quer o número de certificados ISO 9001 e ISO 14001 emitidos a nível mundial. Dados relativos à penetração da norma OHSAS 18001 nas organizações não são disponibilizados pela ISO, mas tudo leva a crer que seguem uma tendência similar aos dos restantes sub-sistemas de gestão mencionados. Alguns destes dados referem-se, certamente, a organizações possuindo mais do que um sistema de gestão, pelo que, este contínuo incremento de organizações certificadas quer pela ISO 9001 quer pela ISO 14001, implicará um incremento, também, de SIG. Actualmente, o Departamento de Produção e Sistemas da Universidade do Minho desenvolve um projecto cujo objectivo é dar respostas a estas questões específicas enquadradas num objectivo global: o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia que permita avaliar o nível de eficiência e maturidade de um SIG. Baseado em artigos publicados pelos autores e em trabalho actualmente em desenvolvimento, o presente artigo pretende dar a conhecer a revisão bibliográfica desenvolvida sobre o tema, uma proposta conceptual de auditorias internas a sistemas integrados, uma potencial metodologia integrada de avaliação de indicadores, o reposicionamento expectável do sub-sistema de gestão da Qualidade no quadro de integração e os dados de suporte ao fenómeno da integração organizacional