Watch this free webinar recording to learn how to leverage ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ANAB AR 3125 requirements to both show compliance and implement best practices for effective internal audits by Forensic Service Providers (FSPs) that can lead to long term process improvements.

Internal auditing is an essential tool for the Forensic Service Provider to continually improve the management system and technical operations. For the accredited FSP, and the FSPs seeking accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ANAB AR 3125 contain requirements for the planning, timing and content of the internal audits.

In addition to addressing requirements from these two standards pertinent to internal auditing, the webinar highlights the importance of risk-based thinking in witnessing on planned intervals, conducting effective implementation, and meeting defined objectives. The auditing process for a hypothetical laboratory is also provided, along with an example of a witnessing planning matrix.

Please watch ANAB’s past webinar, Using Internal Audits for Process Improvement, for a more look into ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 8.8 requirements.

Audience Questions

At the end of the webinar, questions were asked by the webinar’s attendees. These included:

• What are your thoughts on witnessing in a nontechnical capacity?
• Do we have to use a witnessing plan matrix?
• What would be the best way and necessary way that an auditor documents the witnessing to maintain the documentation for an internal audit?
• With the redefinition of some SI units in 2019 based on fundamental constants, is it still valid to reference the international prototype of the kilogram in calibration certificates for metrological traceability?
• How to select internal auditors and what kind of training do they need to have?
• Would you suggest or require all methods be scheduled to be observed within an accreditation cycle, even if a given method is low risk?
• Our lab only has 3 people. Would we all be internal auditors?
• Will labs get a nonconformity in our assessment if they don’t do witnessing?
• Could you give examples of acceptable evidence against a requirement of monitoring the ongoing risk to impartiality?
• Is there a requirement to be trained by ANAB to serve as a contracted internal auditor to ISO/IEC 17020?
• Can internal audits completed by external contractors satisfy the annual internal audit requirements?

Presenter