Accreditations

What is accreditation?
 
Reliability through conformity assessments

Requirements regarding the quality of goods and services are continuously increasing as a result of the liberalisation of global trade and increasing demands by consumers, companies and legislators. Whether for environmental protection, in the food or electrical industry, health care or renewable energy – for these and many other industries, objective testing, calibrations, inspections or certifications therefore play a very important role.

These assessments ensure that tested products, methods, services or systems are reliable with regard to their quality and safety, that they correspond to a technical minimum standard and conform to the standards, guidelines and laws that correspond with the various requirements. These objective attestations are therefore also described as conformity assessments.
 
Trust through accreditation

However, the trust placed in certificates, inspections, tests or calibrations stands and falls with the competence of the person that renders the assessment service. Many of these so-called conformity assessment bodies therefore confirm the quality of their own work with an accreditation.

As part of the accreditation procedure, they can confirm to an independent accreditation body that they carry out their activities with technical competence, in compliance with statutory and standards-based requirements and at an internationally comparative standard. The accreditation body assesses and monitors the management system and the competence of the conformity assessment body’s assigned personnel.

Therefore accreditations play a key role in warranting the comparability of conformity assessment results and creating trust in the quality and safety of products and services.

What are the benefits of accreditation?

INAS accreditation is internationally recognised. This symbol of assurance offers you many direct benefits.

* Highlights your competence and credibility.
* Confirms you are independent and impartial.
* Gives you international recognition with the international accreditation organisations  INAS has formal arrangements with.
* Enables you to benchmark ongoing performance against relevant standards.
* Informs your clients you have meet the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry.
* Flags your ability to meet mandatory regularly requirements.
* Strengthens your ability to compete overall.

Accreditation throughout the market chain is increasingly important. The business world we live in is growing quickly and is highly complex with many inspectors and certifiers operating without accreditation. This is risky for all players, right through to the ultimate consumer.

Without accreditation there is no certainty that goods and services can be depended upon. On the other hand, accreditation provides certainty in a world where standardisation and certification are an integral part of the global economy. And it supports trade and commerce.

INAS offers accreditation for these themes to support government, industry and the community to achieve their goals:

* business and innovation
* health and human services
* product certification
* food and biological systems
 
What system does INAS use to accredit?

INAS's accreditation process is systematic and comprehensive in its assessment of an applicant’s capabilities and systems.

Before our Governing Board grants an accreditation, the conditions of accreditation—as set out in our detailed accreditation manual—must be met.

Our accreditation process is open, transparent, fair and ethical—every step of the way.

Once accreditation is granted, you sign an accreditation deed and agree to all of its undertakings.

We then monitor compliance and request adjustments or withdraw your accreditation should you not be fully complying.

After four years, bodies need to apply to be re-accredited.