Minutes INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION FORUM

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Minutes
INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION FORUM
MEETING JUNE 8 AND 9,1995
1.
Convene Meeting Session, Welcome. Introductions
Chairman Autery called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. on June 8 and welcomed all
participants. Each participant introduced himself/herself and identified their organizational
affiliation. The list of participants during the two day session June 8 and 9 is attached as
document N 1.
2.
3.
Agreement on Agenda Items, Approach and Cost Sharing of meeting
Expenses
2.1
The agenda circulated with the meeting announcement was accepted with
the opportunity to hear a report from the International Laboratory
Accreditation Committee to be provided before the close of the meeting on
June 8.
2.2
Meeting Expenses. It was agreed that IAF participants would share in the
meeting expenses at 120 SF per delegate.
Approval of minutes of IAF meeting of, January 18-20, 1995, Geneva.
Switzerland
3.1
Minutes previously distributed February 17, 1995
The minutes were approved with a replacement of all references to "JAZ-ANZ" with
"JAS-ANZ.”
It was also agreed that the minutes should reflect that the task of-working group 3
included making recommendations aimed at enabling IAF to deliver-as soon as possible a
system of multilateral agreements among accreditation bodies giving world wide
confidence in accredited certifications.
4.
Report and Discussion of ISO QSAR proposal
The chairman requested John Hulbert to lead a discussion of the status of QSAR and the
results of an IAF delegation meeting with ISO leaders.
Mr. Hulbert reported that an IAF delegation including Mr. Autery, Mr. Lofgren, Mr.
Ohtsubo, Mr. Autery and Mr. Willingmyre had met on June 7 with ISO Secretary General
Larry Eicher and ISO Vice President Stewart Horwood. The meeting was productive in
improving understanding between the IAF organization and ISO. It was noted that ISO
council would consider the matter of QSAR on June 8 and a revised proposal taking into
consideration some of the concerns of IEC would be discussed (See N2).
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 2 of 10
During this IAF delegation meeting with ISO, the participants believed that the 1AF
members could play a significant role in the peer evaluation process for accreditors contained
the QSAR proposal. Participants also believed that a steering committee with members from
ISO, IEC and IAF could help assure that plans for implementing QSAR could progress
smoothly.
Following this report, IAF participants engaged in a comprehensive discussion of the
objectives of QSAR and the advantages and disadvantages of ISO involvement.
It was resolved and passed by a vote of 15 to 1 that:
"Having noted the progress of the QSAR program and the opportunity for IAF members to
participate, it is the sense of the IAF that IAF members should not enter the QSAR system
until there is a consensus within IAF".
The chairman noted and thanked Mr.Hulbert for his efforts on behalf of IAF with ISO.
In order to support such work as Mr. Hulbert had been engaged since the January meeting of
the IAF it was moved and unanimously approved:
"The IAF endorses the establishment of a chairman’s group to continue the business of IAF
between meeting sessions. The Chairman’s group may include other than IAF accreditors."
The Chairman agreed to propose membership of a Chairman’s group later in the meeting.
5.
Discussion of Purpose of 1AF and 1AF Memorandum of Understanding’ .
The chairman asked Mr. Hewlett to lead a discussion of the proposed IAF Memorandum of
Understanding.
Mr. Hewlett presented the recommendations of working group 3 which had reviewed the
comments submitted on the draft MOU distributed from the January meeting.
The discussion continued over portions of both June 8 and June 9 and led to IAF consensus
on the final MOU contained as attachment N3. Nine accreditation bodies had signed the MOU
by the close of the meeting.
Among points which were the focus of considerable discussion were:
-
need for a mission statement for IAF which was agreed would be added later tothe
MOU;
-
question of voting rights for Associate Members which was agreed would be provided
in accordance with section 5.4;
-
question of legal status where it was agreed in section 8.5 the MOU created no binding
legal effect.
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 3 of 10
The secretary was requested to circulate the MOU with the minutes with a request for interested
organizations to indicate their interest in becoming members or associate members as soon as
possible. See N3
6.0
International Laboratory Accreditation Conference
Mr. Jos. Leferink, Chairman of ILAC summarized the work of ILAC and welcomed close
interaction and liaison between IAF and ILAC. See N4. Mr. Leferink invited Mr. Autery as
Chair of IAF to the next plenary meeting of ILAC in September 1996 in Amsterdam.
7.0 . Meeting With ISO Council
Mr. Autery announced that he had been invited to meet with the ISO Council on June 9 and
received the endorsement of the IAF to represent them.
June 9. 1995
Chairman Autery called on Mr. Ohtsubo to chair the morning meeting during the period when
Mr. Autery was meeting with ISO Council.
Mr. Ohtsubo thanked Mr. Thomas Arnold for inviting IAF members, to a reception cruise on the
evening of June 8. All of the IAF members joined in thanking Mr. Arnold.
Mr. Ohtsubo created a Communique Working group including Mr. May, Mr. Dean and Mr.
Hewlett and called on the group to propose a meeting communique later in the day.
8.
Discussion of Working Group 2 DRAFT Multilateral Agreement
Mr. Gerry Bartels led a discussion of the Draft Document "Policies and Procedures for a
multilateral recognition agreement among accreditation Bodies".
Mr. Bartels prepared a new draft based on the discussions and it was agreed that IAF members
would send comments on this draft (See N5) by July 9, 1995. After addressing comments from
this last review the document will be sent to IAF members for ballot.
Mr. Lars Ettarp provided a checklist used by SWEDAC for evaluating accreditation .
bodies compliance with requirements (See N6).
The question of when relevant ISO Guides should begin to be used wasdiscussed. It was
agreed to set January 1, 1997 as a goal to use the new international Guides. It was further
agreed that such Guides could begin to be used upon their publication but that mandatory use
should begin one year from publication.
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 4 of 10
9.
Report on meeting with ISO
Chairman Autery returned to the meeting and reported on his discussions with the ISO
Council.
He reported to the ISO Council that the IAF supported international acceptance of accredited
quality system registrations; that IAF would not become a legal entity but would formalize
itself through a Memorandum of Understanding; that IAF would respond to an invitation to
prepare procedures for operating a peer assessment program for accreditation bodies and had
established a chairman’s group to conduct this work; and that IAF was interested in finding
the most efficient and cost effective international system for reaching the goal of world wide
acceptance of accredited certifications and registrations.
Mr. Autery learned that the ISO Council had passed a resolution (See N7) to proceed with
formal establishment of the ISO/IEC QSAR program as soon as possible and to interact
with the IAF within the QSAR program context.
10.
Discussion of Working Group 1 IAF Interpretation of EN45012 and other
activities
Mr. John Hulbert lead a discussion of the draft "IAF Guidance on the application’ of EN45012
for Bodies operating assessment and certification/Registration of Quality Systems". He
distributed a Draft incorporating comments from working group discussions on June 7. It was
agreed that IAF members would begin to use the document but it is intended as a "living
document" that will need further work as more experience is gained. See N8.
11.
Progress of Working Group 3 on Sector Specific Applications
Mr. Paul Hewlett reported the results of the working group 3 discussions on June 7. See N9.
11.1
Supplier Audit Confirmation (SAC)
-
SAC is not a sector-specific program;
-
IAF members trust accredited certification bodies/registrars to adapt their
time spent on assessment of supplier’s quality systems as indicated in
Annex 2 of IAF Guidance on the Application of EN45012 for bodies specifying assessment and certification/registration of quality systems
Version 8;
-
Factors influencing the amount of time spent on assessment may include:
"The state and maturity of the supplier’s quality system and what is known of its own
internal audit procedures".
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 5 of 10
This leaves room for moving all or part of the way to the SAC concept subject always to audit
by the certification body/registrar to ensure that its confidence is not misplaced, and by the
accreditation body.
11.2
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
•.t
IAF members involved in accreditation of EMS certification/registration should
exchange information so that harmonized policies and procedures are adopted from the outset.
This should lead to a multilateral agreement in this area meeting a need at least of certification
bodies/registrars to avoid multiple audits.
-
Regulatory bodies are expected to be the drivers for EMS.
-
IAF’s job is not to drive EMS certification but rather to see that an international
accreditation system is available based on common criteria, and harmonized
interpretation of such criteria
-
JAB, JAS-ANZ, NACCB, RvC and HOC were suggested as initial
members of an IAF group.
11.3
Registration of Software Quality Systems
-
should be seen as ISO 9001/2 certification, not encouraging the use of
separate logos suggesting that they were something else;
Sector schemes in this or any other area:
-
should serve to ensure competence of auditors;
could usefully indicate industry best practice;
should be industry driven.
See also N10 relating to this agenda item.
IAF should discuss:
-
Plenary Minutes6
Whether or not existing sector schemes are doing their job in giving
confidence;
When new schemes arise (e.g. QS9000) ask why existing accreditation
programs were apparently lacking;
recognizing alternatives which maintain equal or better standards.
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 6 of 10
11.4
Automotive Sector Scheme (QS9000)
-
This initiative was industry driven;
--
It is not the job of accreditation bodies to resist such schemes when there
is industry demand;
If accreditors are called upon to help to implement the automotive sector
scheme they should coordinate to resolve ambiguities with the authors of
the scheme. Accreditation bodies should be cautious in saying exactly
how much auto industry experience is required of an assessor.
-
12.
Agenda topics carried over from previous meeting
12.1 Competence of Certification personnel
It was agreed to rename this topic "Competence of Conformity Assessment.’
Personnel" and working group 2 was requested to obtain broad, input from users
including EOQ, EQNET, EQS. Working group 2 was requested to make a
progress report at the next meeting of IAF.
12.2
13.
Summaries of accreditation activities and liaison reps
13.1
14.
Capability of Consultants - It was agreed to hold this item in abeyance until
more results are achieved on higher priority items.
The matter of some organizations operating both as registrars and laboratory
accreditors was discussed. There was mixed experience among IAF members
on how to treat this with some seeing this as a conflict of interest and others
seeing laboratory accreditation similar to registration/certification activity. It
was agreed to consult with ILAC to obtain their advice.
Discussion of Future activities
14.1
Discussion of new work items
There was no discussion of new work items
14.2
Next meeting date and location
It was agreed that the next meeting would be held during the week of January
15-20, 1996 at a location to be determined. The Secretariat will prepare a list of
possible locations for consideration by IAF members.
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 7 of 10
15.
Chairman’s Working Group
The chairman proposed a chairman’s working group that would include balanced geographical
representation and would also include representation from the certification and industrial
communities. The IAF approved the following membership:
Lars Ettarp, SWEDAC; Harry Gundlach RvC; John Hulbert, JAS-ANZ; Takashi
Ohtsubo, JAB; Reinaldo Figueiredo,INMETRO; Linda Campbell, IIOC; Dale
Misczynski, Motorola.
16.
Preparation of meeting ~mmanli ui for public distribution
A draft meeting communique was reviewed and the secretary was requested to
incorporate the comments in the final version to be distributed. See N 1 l .
18.
Closure and Adjournment of Meeting Session
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 P.M.
Submitted by:.
IAF Secretariat
IAF’min.6/95
Minutes Confirmed at IAF Seventh Plenary Meeting, 17th January 1996
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 8 of 10
Participants in IAF meeting June 7-9~1995
IAF Secretariat provided by ANSI
Chairman
Secretary
C. Reuben Autery
George Willingmyre
Representing Accreditation Organizations
Sweden
(SWEDAC)
Lars Ettarp
United Kingdom
(NACCB)
Paul Hewlett
Switzerland
(SAS)
Japan
(JAB)
Jean Pierre Jounin
Hans-Peter Ischi
Takashi Ohtsubo
Shoichiro Okujo
Republic of China - Taipai
(BCIQ)
Neng-Jeng Lin
Korea
(IAA)
Italy
(SINCERT)
Hong-Soon Chang
Kyo-Won Yoon
Kwang-Kon Kim
Enrico_Martinotti
USA
(ANSI & ANSI-RAB)
Leroy Mayv
George:Q. Lofgren
John Stratton
Netherlands
(RvC)
Harry Gundlach
W. F. Deken
Germany
(BAM)
Monika Wloka
Spain
(RELE)
Fernando Maiz de la Torre
Argentina
(IRAM)
Mario Osvaldo Wittner
Ireland
(NAB)
Brendan Lavin
France
(COFRAC)
Gilles Dupriez
Australia and
New Zealand
(JAS-ANZ)
John Hulbert
Noel Matthews
John Dean
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 9 of 10
Canada
(SCC)
Gerry Bartels
Brazil
(INMETRO)
Finland
CMA
Tuulikki Hattula
China
(CNACP)
(CNACR)
Me Jun
Xiao Jianhua
Reinaldo Balbino de Figueiredo
Other Organizations
ISO
Michael Parkany
IIOC
Linda Campbell
Jeffrey Homer
IAAR
M.L. Courtois
Thomas R. Arnold
ILAC
Dr. Jos. Leferink
Information Technology Industry Council
Dale Misczynski (Motorola)
David Ling (Hewlett Packard)
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001
IAF Sixth Plenary Meeting
Page 10 of 10
Communique
International Accreditation Forum
(IAF)
During its sixth meeting, held in Geneva, June 7-9, 1995, the IAF, with participants representing
twenty nine organizations from twenty one countries or economies, took several important steps
toward its goal of achieving and maintaining confidence in the accreditation programs operated
by its members. Such confidence will provide the basis for product certifications and quality
system certifications/registrations performed once, in one place and accepted worldwide.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) drafted at the previous IAF meeting was completed
and has now been signed by 11 accreditation bodies and by 2 certification/ registration
organizations (See attachment). More organizations are expected to sign the MOU in the near
future.
The objectives of the IAF, summarized from the MOU, are:
•
to achieve and maintain confidence in the accreditation programs operated by IAF members
and in the activities of the bodies accredited by them,
•
to support the development and implementation of relevant ISO/IEC standards and guides,
•
to open and maintain channels to exchange information,
•
to establish and maintain a multilateral agreement (MLA) on the equivalence of
accreditation programs operated by its members as verified by peer review,
•
where possible, to encourage the establishment of agreements between accreditation bodies
and regional multilateral agreement (RMLA) groups.
The IAF established a chairman's group in order that work on key documents and essential
activities may proceed without delay between IAF meetings. The chairman's group includes
representatives from accreditation bodies, certification/registration bodies and industry.
During the course of the meeting discussions were held with the Council of the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) concerning establishment of a working relationship for
implementation of the planned ISO/EEC Quality Systems Assessment Recognition (QSAR)
program. IAF volunteered to provide the operational role for QSAR under a joint steering
committee. The next step is for the IAF to develop a specific proposal for the peer assessment
activities which will form the basis for QSAR.
The members agreed to meet again in January 1996.
Plenary Minutes6
Printed 22 February, 2001