Proficiency Testing: A Valuable Addition to Your Quality Control
Every testing laboratory has a variety of tools available to evaluate their performance. This includes a number of internal checks such as calibration, control charting and well-vetted procedures or methods that can provide a lab with confidence in the repeatability of results. For laboratories seeking to optimize and upgrade their quality systems, proficiency testing is a valuable tool that offers multiple benefits.
By comparing results to known values, as well as those of other participants, your laboratory can ensure that your instruments are producing reliable results for your products. Additionally, proficiency testing builds trust with new clients by assuring them that you maintain a sound quality system that not only meets your needs, but theirs as well. Finally, the data collected by these programs provide insight into the overall testing competency of the industry. Through interlaboratory proficiency testing, entire industries can identify laboratories strengths and weaknesses and improve testing competency and methods for the community.