Accreditation for Reference Material Producer

Accreditation for reference material producer refers to the process of evaluating and certifying that an organization is competent to produce reference materials. Reference materials are materials that are used as standards of known composition or properties, and are often used in a variety of applications, including testing, calibration, and quality control.

To obtain accreditation as a reference material producer, an organization must typically demonstrate that it has the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to produce reference materials in a competent and reliable manner. It may also be required to have a quality management system in place that meets the requirements of the relevant accreditation standards.

There are several different types of accreditation standards that may be applicable to reference material producers, depending on the specific types of reference materials being produced and the country or region in which the organization operates. For example, ISO 17034 is an international standard for the competence of reference material producers, which sets out requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistency of reference material producers. 

Other standards, such as ISO/IEC 17025 (for testing and calibration laboratories) or ISO/IEC 17020 (for inspection bodies), may also be applicable.

United States Accreditation, INC. provides accreditation for Reference Material Producers to ISO 17034:2016, and this program provides users of reference materials, such as testing and calibration laboratories, with increased confidence that relied-upon reference materials are being produced in accordance with specified technical and management system requirements and are of appropriate quality.

Accreditation allows RMPs to demonstrate their competence by complying with international criteria. For those who use reference materials, such as calibration and testing labs, U.S. Accreditation Inc. accreditation provides assurance of the quality of reference materials produced according to specific technical and management system requirements. Many RMPs hold accreditation to both ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 17034.

RMP?accreditation provides an added level of confidence and assurance that international guidelines are followed in the production, labeling, and assignment of property values to materials, including stability and homogeneity determinations. In addition to providing assurance of technical competence and good quality management practices, accreditation involves verification of critical production management of the Reference Material Producer.

Advantages of Accreditation for Reference Material Producers

• Support testing and calibration laboratories to produce reliable results and achieve measurement traceability
• Improve quality assurance and reduce potential costs to your organization.
• Ensure compliance to international standards.
• Gain market advantage through the supply of reference materials

While ISO 17034 specifies general requirements for Reference Material Producer operations, specific levels of accuracy are required for each reference material appropriate to its intended purpose (appropriate measurement uncertainty). RMPs can be accredited for a wide variety of materials used for critical and measurable properties.