The CNAS-R01 "Rules for the Use of Accreditation Marks and Accreditation Status Declarations" document can help CNAS software testing laboratories to use accreditation marks correctly. In this article, let's take a look at the non-conformities in the use of the logo during the on-site review of the CNAS software testing laboratory, as well as the problems that are easy to be ignored in the use of the logo.
Examples of non-conformities in the lab during the on-site review:
Procedures have not been established in accordance with the requirements of the documentation, or the content of the procedures does not meet the requirements.
The design or size of the approval mark does not meet the requirements.
Use of the accreditation mark and/or report declaring the accreditation status The certificate contains non-recognized project parameters, standards, etc., and is not identified in accordance with the regulations.
The list of approved items that are not approved and are not clearly marked on the wall and are posted on the wall for advertising with the accreditation logo.
The changed technical capability is to use the accreditation mark or declare the accreditation status before it has been approved and recognized by CNAS.
The laboratory issues a report on the use of the accreditation mark or the declaration of accreditation status The name of the certificate does not match the name of the accreditation.
Case 1: The laboratory did not establish a management procedure in accordance with the relevant content of the CNAS accreditation mark use and accreditation status declaration rules.
Case 2: The laboratory lacks management documents that meet the requirements of CNAS-R01:2018 "Rules for the Use of Accreditation Marks and Declaration of Accreditation Status".
Case 3: As a calibration laboratory, the laboratory did not establish a management procedure for the issuance of calibration labels with the CNAS accreditation mark in accordance with the requirements of CNAS-R01:2018.
Analysis: This type of problem is the most frequent among the non-conformities involving CNAS-R01. The laboratory establishes a management procedure, which can be a procedure or some other name, as long as it is covered in the management system document.
Clauses requiring the establishment of administrative procedures
In CNAS-R01, the provisions related to testing and calibration laboratories that require the establishment of management procedures are:
5.1.2 The conformity assessment body shall establish management procedures for the use of the CNAS accreditation mark and the accreditation status declaration to ensure compliance with the provisions of these Rules, and shall not use the CNAS accreditation mark or declare the accreditation status in other businesses unrelated to the scope of accreditation.
5.4.1. The calibration laboratory shall establish a management procedure for the issuance of calibration labels with the CNAS accreditation mark.
Case 4: The test report with report numbers AB-211009, AB-211010, AB-211011, AB-211012, and AB211013 uses the CNAS accreditation mark, but the name of the test report unit is "XXX*** special seal for testing", which is not the name of "XXX*** laboratory" recognized by CNAS.
Analysis: When the laboratory is part of a legal entity, its recognized name is the name of the legal entity + the name of the laboratory, and the name of the laboratory on the test report using the accreditation mark or declaring the accreditation status should be the name of the legal entity + the name of the laboratory.
Case 5: The check number is the 20201214001 test report, and the inspection basis is GB7300201-2019, the standard is a change standard, the standard change has not been recognized, and the test report uses the CNAS accreditation mark.
Analysis: The standards that have been accredited by the laboratory have changed, and the laboratory should follow the CNAS-RL01 "Laboratory Accreditation Rules" 91.1. Apply to CNAS, and CNAS shall confirm it by filing or review in accordance with the regulations. Before the CNAS is confirmed, the changed standard is equivalent to not being accredited and is not within the scope of accreditation, so the accreditation mark cannot be used on the report certificate issued by the laboratory according to this standard or the accreditation status cannot be declared.
Case 6: In the inspection report with the number A20210504005 using the accreditation mark, the test method GB T XXX based on a sub-item is not recognized, but the report does not indicate that the method is not within the scope of accreditation.
Analysis: Within the scope of statistical data, the frequency of this type of non-conformity ranks second among R01 non-conformities, indicating that it is a requirement that laboratories tend to ignore. Therefore, the personnel responsible for using the accreditation mark in the laboratory, including the authorized signatory, should not only be familiar with the requirements of CNAS-RO1, but also be familiar with the scope of competence that their laboratory has been accredited, such as project parameters, standards, etc., so as to avoid the erroneous use of the accreditation mark or the declaration of accreditation status.
Case 7: In the test report with the number ABCD2022031501, the laboratory will "ILAC-MRA CNAS.""The International Mutual Recognition Mark and the CNAS Recognition Mark are affixed to the upper part of the second page of the report.
Analysis: The laboratory needs to pay attention to the fact that when the report and certificate have a cover page, the cover page is the first page of the report and certificate, and the "ILAC-MRA CNAS" international mutual recognition mark and CNAS accreditation mark should be stamped on the cover page.
Case 8: The legal entity of the laboratory still uses the accreditation status statement in the ** promotion during the suspension of the laboratory's accreditation status.
Analysis: The laboratory where the non-conformity occurred is a non-independent legal person laboratory. This non-conformity tells us that whether the laboratory applies for suspension of accreditation or proposes to cancel accreditation, or is punished by CNAS for violating accreditation requirements, in addition to stopping the use of the CNAS accreditation mark or declaring the accreditation status on the report or certificate, documents, office supplies, publicity materials and web pages, etc., the laboratory should also notify the legal entity to stop using the CNAS accreditation mark or declare the accreditation status on documents, office supplies, publicity materials and web pages, etc.
Case 9: In the test report issued on December 29, 2022, the laboratory used the CNAS accreditation mark and did not use it correctly in accordance with the style issued by the CNAS Secretariat - the text of the accreditation system and the laboratory registration number were placed below the CNAS logo.
Analysis: In 2015, the CNAS accreditation logo changed, and then the CNAS accreditation logo style was also updated, and the CNAS Secretariat issued the "Accreditation Commission (Secretary) [2015] No. 55" document, which stipulates the transition requirements for the conversion, requiring the accredited laboratories to stop using the accreditation logo of the old version by December 31, 2018 at the latestAs of January 1, 2019, test calibrations, inspection reports or certificates bearing the old approval mark will no longer be valid. However, some laboratories are still using the old version of the accreditation mark to list this non-conformity as a reminder.
Case 10: None of the items in the accreditation scope table posted on the wall of a laboratory in a branch of the laboratory for publicity are within the scope of accreditation, but the accreditation logo is used.
Analysis: If the document on the wall uses the CNAS accreditation logo or declares the accreditation status, it must also comply with the provisions of the CNAS-R01 document.
For the documents on the wall, as long as they belong to the scope of the management system, they should be in accordance with the requirements of laboratory document management (83 clauses) to manage, when the documents are updated, not only the paper documents and/or electronic documents should be updated, but the documents on the wall should also be replaced in a timely manner.
The documents on the wall are easy to be ignored by the laboratory in the operation of the management system, so the non-conformities are listed to draw attention.
cnaslogo withcnasThe difference between the recognition mark
The following circumstances include, but are not limited to, the use of the Endorsement Logo or the declaration of Accreditation status.
1. Not recognized, including recognized qualifications or technical capabilities. Note: Even if an application for accreditation has been made, the accreditation mark cannot be used regardless of the stage at which the accreditation process is progressing, as long as the accreditation approval has not been obtained.
2. The scope of accreditation of the laboratory has been revoked or cancelled, or the accreditation qualification has been revoked or cancelled.
3. During the suspension of accreditation, the scope of accreditation that is suspended.
4. The scope of accreditation of the laboratory has been narrowed.
5. The name, address, authorized signatory, testing and calibration methods, standards, procedures, specifications, etc. of the laboratory have been changed, but have not yet been approved.
6. The accreditation requirements have changed, but the laboratory has not completed the conversion on time.
7. Other businesses unrelated to the scope of recognition.
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