June 6: Certification Bodies

We started our “Accreditation Week” with this subject on June 6, with the participation of more than 90 people for the systems and product certification sectors.

In the Systems Management workshop the main changes in ISO/IEC for the standards 17021 and ISO 19011, as well as the new accreditation areas, were made known.

For the Product sector, the accreditation schemes under the ISO/IEC 17067 standard and the advancements about the ISO/IEC standard were explained.

June 7: Inspection Units

The 120 attendees had the chance to learn about the experiences of the inspection units. These units have had zero nonconformities for the second occasion. These inspection units have been accredited for more than 10 years, have mature management systems, as well as having benefited from regional assessments.

The importance of calibrating measurement equipment was explained and we presented the application guides to the standard NMX-EC 17020-IMNC-2000 for different subjects.

 June 8: Laboratories

Calibration and Testing Laboratories

In a forum of more than 230 participants the updating of the assessment and accreditation procedures and the criteria for the application of the standard NMX-EC 17025-IMNC-2006 were made known, as well as the changes in the policies for proficiency testing, traceability and uncertainty of measurement.

 Clinical Laboratories

We recounted with the assistance of 50 representatives of clinical laboratories about the accreditation program for this sector in the international scene, specifically in France, which is the country with more advancement in this field.

Participants had the opportunity to learn through practical examples about advancements on validation of quality methods guides and quality control in clinical laboratories and blood banks.

Forensic Laboratories

Participants became acquainted with the success story of the first forensic laboratory accredited in Mexico and the Criminal Procedure Reform.

We highlighted the importance of guaranteeing technical competence in forensic science laboratories.

June 9: World Accreditation Day

For the conclusion of the exchange and learning works, we celebrated the “World Accreditation Day” with the presence of personalities representing the authorities in this matter, businessmen, academics, research centers and conformity assessment bodies, who endorsed their commitment to comply and enforce the standards. They were congratulated on the great achievements they have reached in these 12 years, since Entidad Mexicana de Acreditación, a.c. (ema) was founded.

Accreditation Week in numbers:

 . 720 persons participated

. 50 speakers

. 11 sponsors