NACLA Annual Forum February 2009

Welcome

NACLA Annual Forum February 2009

President’s Report

• Who are currently recognized by NACLA?

Who are currently recognized by NACLA?

– The AB’s have accredited over 1000 laboratories collectively in their respective recognized fields and many more in other

– We lost one in 2008 – FQS– We have evaluated one and in process of

finalizing the evaluation report for approval in 2009.

– We have an applicant for the CMET Sector Specific Scope addition in 2009.

NACLA Support in 2008

• NIST

• ACIL

• ANSI

• FHWA

• DOE

• DoD

• AIAG (Automotive)

• Other stakeholders and members all of note

NACLA Support in 2008• Members, Volunteers, Staff, Directors, Officers

1. We have 24 members of NACLA … they do represent specifiers, regulators, accreditation bodies and laboratories.

2. There are 15 voting board members

3. There is a secretariat and operations to support the four recognized AB’s and two applicants.

4. We operate to do good things in the nation.

5. WE ARE VOLUNTEERS WHO WISH TO EXPAND THE NACLA VISION, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

PRESIDENTDoug Leonard

RECOGNITION COMMITTEE

CHAIRMike Rafalowski

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

CHAIRRich Reitz

VICEPRESIDENT

Dick PettitSECRETARY

Rich Reitz

TREASURER(OPERATIONS COMMITTEE)John Neuner

QUALITYMANAGER

(Interim)Tony Anderson

OTHER VOTING DIRECTORS

Susan Crompton Doug GeraldeKeith GreenawayJim KullmanCheryl MortonArman HovakemianMike RafalowskiPat McCullen 2009Randy Robbins 2009

MEMBER ATLARGE

Joe Branskey

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

(RECOGNITION COUNCIL)

Tony Anderson(non-voting)

NON-VOTING

ExCo VOTING OFFICERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS/ OPERATIONS COUNCIL

APPOINTEDLIASON

NIST MoUDave Alderman

APPOINTEDLIASON

ACIL MoUMilt Bush

APPOINTEDLIASON

IAAC MoUPat Paladino

VOTING

NACLA Recognition

NACLA BoD/OC Work in 2008

• NACLA held three board meetings and eleven Executive Committee Meetings.

• We have closed 93 action items in 2008 while 42 remain open from the December Board Meeting.

NACLA’s BoD/OC Work in 2008

•Bylaws were revised and ratified July 31, 2008 (link)•Quality Manual was revised and ratified April 2, 2008 (link)•Evaluation Procedure was revised and ratified Dec.18, 2008 (link)•On December 18, 2008 the Board of Directors/Operations Council reviewed and approved 20 additional administrative procedures and charters to better NACLA’s efficiency and quality of service. (available in pdf on the “USB mass storage device if member”)

•Example is Administrative Procedure #10.0 (link)•Our Quality System supports our operations and it ratified by the board. •If anyone wants to improve it is transparent to the membership and high level documents to stakeholders

NACLA’s Quality System Structure

QUALITY SYSTEM STRUCTURE

NACLA maintains a documented quality system as a means to ensure conformance to national and internationally recognized standards.  The quality system is comprised of the following documents:

•NACLA Bylaws

•NACLA Quality Manual

•NACLA Evaluation Procedure(s)

•NACLA Sector Specific Technical (Program) Requirements

•NACLA General Procedures and associated records, forms and report

•NACLA Committee Charters and associated records, forms and reports

The NACLA “Quality Manual" is maintained by the NACLA Operations Committee.  The NACLA Board of Directors is responsible to approve the NACLA Quality Manual and all revisions.

NACLA Committees in 2008

• Operation Committee has been active with budget approval, quality system ratification, daily business of NACLA

• Recognition Committee has been active with ratification of new procedure and the formation of sub-committee for new recognition program.

• Technical Committee has been active with liason activitiy with ACIL through EMC/EMI, Food, and especially CMET.

Recognition Council in 2008

• The Council met in 2008 to discuss the status of three ABs. – The council will hear deliberations on a new

application and a scope expansion in 2009– Remains a Specifier, Regulator and Laboratory

controlled council – Opportunity for regulators and specifiers

interested in third party accreditation to contribute to the council

New Committee started in 2008

• US Accreditation Committee (USAC)– Charter to be written in 2009– Made up of US Accreditation Bodies– Part of the committee charter may be to

represent NACLA on ILAC as a National Coordinating Body

• Will allow the US AB’s the ability to pool $ for international interests

NACLA Meetings and Contributions in 2008

• Reports presented to NCSLI, IAAC, ACIL, APLAC and ILAC

• Attended and contributed to the ACIL CMET Committee (paper co-developed through MoU)

• Presented NIST with a plaque in appreciation of their dedication and support of NACLA

• Met with FCC and AASHTO in Washington

NACLA Training in 2008

• Successfully completed a Public Training on ISO/IEC 17025 Internal Auditing and a Measurement Uncertainty Workshop.

• Attendees from DoD, Public and Private Laboratories, Specifiers, etc.

• Feedback was positive to develop future Public Training.

NACLA’s Purpose, Vision and Objectives

PURPOSE OF NACLA:To provide coordination and focus for laboratory accreditation in the United States of America by:

•Reducing redundant AB evaluations through the acceptance of NACLA and/or International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) recognition.•Promoting the acceptance of NACLA and ILAC recognition.•Working with industry specifiers and government/regulatory agencies in the United States to coordinate the development of supplemental technical requirements beyond those included in international guidelines used for AB recognition and laboratory accreditation.

NACLA’s Purpose, Vision and Objectives

VISION OF NACLA

The NACLA vision is to establish national and international stakeholder confidence in the competence of Accreditation Bodies (ABs) and their accredited laboratories (technical confidence in the results contained in reports and certificates issued by these laboratories).

This NACLA vision achieves the following:

•For NACLA recognized accreditation bodies, a NACLA scope of recognition to a common international model, and, where applicable, with fields of recognition specific to supplemental technical programs that meet specifier and/or regulator requirements.

•For ILAC recognized accreditation bodies, a NACLA scope of recognition utilizing the ILAC recognition as the basis for meeting the international model, and, where applicable, with NACLA approval of each field of recognition to specific supplemental technical programs that meet specifier and/or regulator requirements.

NACLA’s Purpose, Vision and Objectives

VISION OF NACLA

This NACLA vision achieves the following:

•For testing and calibration laboratories, a single accreditation in a given field(s) of testing and/or calibration, based on International requirements for purposes of acceptance by specifiers and/or regulators (users of accreditation).  

•For specifiers and regulators, confidence that an accredited test or calibration is performed by a competent laboratory that meets the specifiers’ or regulators’ requirements.  

NACLA’s Purpose, Vision and Objectives

OBJECTIVES OF NACLA

•NACLA’s first objective is to increase stakeholder (specifiers, regulators and laboratories) confidence in the laboratory accreditation system within the United States. Increased confidence by stakeholders will assure that comparable, safe and reliable data produced by accredited laboratories will reduce the cost to re-accredit, re-test and re-sample laboratories and the outcome of their work in the laboratory community.

•NACLA’s second objective is to assure the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST), its continued dedication to impartiality and integrity and the use of accepted international standards and supplemental technical requirements that meet relevant government and specifier requirements.

NACLA’s Purpose, Vision and Objectives

OBJECTIVES OF NACLA

•NACLA’s third objective is to coordinate the efforts of accreditation bodies, laboratories, specifiers, and regulators in the United States through the use of the international model of accreditation in order to develop programs that meet the needs of all stakeholders.  Where the international model does not fully meet the needs of the stakeholders, to coordinate the development of supplemental technical requirements that meet all stakeholders needs.

SO WHERE IS THE HORSE NOW? – Back Home

Our Operational Motto: “Build Based on Value”Building Blocks are being established:1.We have a Purpose, a Vision and Objectives2.WE ARE RIGHT IN WHAT WE DO!3.We have a Quality System Ratified and in Place to

support the objectives4.We are doing work and have good people5.We still have the support of those who believe in

national cooperation

SO WHERE IS THE HORSE GOING? – Staying Home

• We need a bit of help from our stakeholders

• Regulators need to see the benefit in utilizing the NACLA model alone or in conjunction with the ILAC model

• We need to assure the folks in front of the people establishing “third party accreditation” as a viable solution know we are here to help them with a national model

We can RUN at Home with benefits for our US Members

• NACLA needs members to compliment the already good people involved– New Membership will supports the objectives of NACLA

through volunteerism and financial support– New nationally based MoU’s with stakeholders who see

benefits in NACLA will drive our future– New United States Regulator and Specifier utilization of

NACLA’s committees or the development of joint subcommittees based on technology for sector specific requirements in conjunction with recognition or accreditation.

Some 2009 Goals• National Support at Home by a few more US Regulators and Specifiers

– ask forgiveness and move on.

• Identify and work with others like us or want to use us to develop MoU’s and the like

• Utilize current (ACIL) and new MoU’s for members benefits

• Recognition of AB’s in the US that want NACLA recognition

• Develop Recognition Program for ANSI/NCSLI Z540.3

• Develop and Hold a Training Program for the Evaluation of US Accreditation Bodies

• Recognize AB’s in the US who want CMET on their scope of recognition

• Increase Membership

NACLA/ACIL MoU• ACIL agrees

– To manage the development of “Supplemental Accreditation Requirements ”(requirements) for NACLA.

– To include NACLA and appropriate specifier/regulator representation in the development of requirements

– To provide technical assessor training through ACIL’s Independent Laboratories Institute (ILI);

– To encourage its member laboratories to use these requirements;

– To encourage laboratory support of NACLA through membership and participation.

NACLA/ACIL MoU

• NACLA agrees

– To accept applications for recognition from ABs that include these requirements in their scope

– Assign one of the laboratory Board positions to ACIL with liaison representation to the NACLA Executive Committee.

NACLA/ACIL MoU

• Both ACIL and NACLA agree

• To take the necessary steps to promote and implement this cooperation

• The ACIL nominated member of the NACLA Board will be responsible for reviewing and reporting annually on implementation and progress of the MOU.

NACLA/ACIL MoU How have we done?

• We have developed a sub-committee under the ACIL CMET committee to develop a cross-walk between AASHTO R18 and ISO/IEC 17025 and NISTIR 7012.

• We will use the document for the development of Training Classes with ILI

• NACLA has accepted an application for CMET sector specific requirements on a scope of recognition.

The future of the MoU• More direct involvement of NACLA in

National / ACIL interests– Hired a person in Washington to help– More meetings in Washington (ICSP group but for

laboratory results)

• Use ILI for the development and implementation of mutual training

• Find the needs of Regulators and Specifiers and help them