The objective of all calibration laboratories is to consistently generate and report reliable, technically valid measurement results. But how sure can they be that this is the case? ISO/IEC 17025 requires that a laboratory shall have some specific activities to assure the quality of the measurement results they report. The resulting data shall be recorded in such a way that trends are detectable and, where practicable, statistical techniques shall be applied to the reviewing of the results. This monitoring shall be planned and reviewed and may include, but not be limited to, the following: b) participation in interlaboratory comparison (ILC) or proficiency-testing (PT) programmes. Furthermore, SANAS requires that accredited calibration shall be competent to meet the requirements of SANAS R-48 Technical Requirement document. This course introduces the student to the concept of Proficiency Testing and then offers practical guidance for the successful planning, implementation, and participation in,
Proficiency Testing programmes with the ultimate objective of providing objective evidence that the laboratory remains competent to perform its activities.