ACCREDITATION POLICY FOR THE INTEGRATED ACCREDITATION OF A CONFORMITYASSESSMENT BODY HAVING MULTI-SITE ACTIVITIES IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
1.

PREAMBLE
1.1

2.

SCOPE
2.1

3.

The purpose of this document is to establish a policy on providing accreditation to a facility
having multiple sites where same conformity assessment activities are conducted andoperating within the same structure, management system and principles. This policy
outlines the requirements for eligibility of organizations to benefit from the implementationof this policy. This policy is applicable to only to Calibration Laboratory, Inspections
Agency, Medical Laboratory and Testing Laboratory accreditation programs.

REFERENCES
3.1

4.

This policy provides the process for the accreditation of multiple sites in multiple locations ofa single organization with International Accreditation Service (IAS). The scope of this policy
is defined by the requirements based on the relevant standards and where applicable, othernormative publications as listed in section 3 of this policy.

ISO/IEC 17011:2017, Conformity assessment — Requirements for accreditation bodies
accrediting conformity assessment bodies.

DEFINITIONS
4.1

Conformity Assessment Body: Body that performs conformity assessment activities andthat can be the object of accreditation.

Note: Whenever the term “conformity assessment body” is used in the text, it applies to both theapplicant and accredited conformity assessment bodies, unless otherwise specified (ISO/IEC17011:2017)
4.2

Multi-site Organization: An organization covered by a single management systemcomprising an identified central function (not necessarily the headquarters of theorganization) at which certain processes/activities are planned and controlled, and anumber of sites (permanent or temporary) at which such processes/activities are fully or
partially carried out.

4.3

Scope of accreditation: Specific conformity assessment activities for which accreditation
is sought or has been granted (ISO/IEC 17011:2017).

4.4

Main facility: The permanent premises where activities are performed and/or managed by
the CAB in relation to its other sites under the same structure.

4.5

Permanent Site: Site where a client organization performs work or from which a service
is provided on a continuing basis.

4.6

Temporary Site: Site where a client organization performs specific work or from which a
service is provided for a finite period, and which is not intended to become a permanentsite.
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5.

Satellite Laboratory: A laboratory(ies) owned (or under contract with) and operated by
the same organization as the Main Facility, utilizing the same management system under
its accreditation activities, and is managed by the same management as the Main
Laboratory

ELLIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
5.1

In order to qualify for multi-site accreditation, the main facility and its associated sites must
be under the umbrella of a single management system.

5.2

A Main facility shall be identified as the ‘Main’ location that has oversight over theassociated sites. The IAS listing for this Main facility (e.g., TL-YYY, CL-YYY, AA-YYY), shallbe used as the organization’s integrated Accreditation Certificate. The main andassociated sites will be issued with separate accreditation numbers to cover all sites.

5.3

Each site must be under the direct supervision of the main facility and this relationshipmust be documented by the CAB, e.g., within the management system manual, or othertypes of internal documents such as organizational charts, etc.

5.4

Each associated site shall be listed on the Main facility’s certificate and scope ofaccreditation. The scope of accreditation for each approved site shall be presented as anannex to the main certificate which is periodically updated as changes occur within themulti-site facilities.

5.5

Each site must participate in suitable proficiency testing activities as applicable to its
accreditation scope.

5.6

Each site shall be issued with a unique accreditation number and information (e.g., TLYYY, CL-YYY, AA-YYY) as required under ISO/IEC 17011, clause 7.8.

Note: The Main facility may or may not be conducting technical work with regards to conformity
assessment activities (such as testing, inspection, calibration etc.).
5.7

The key items that must be centrally managed by the Main facility across all other Satellite
locations are as follows:a)Internal Audits.
b)Management Reviews.
c)Complaints Handling.
d)Corrective Actions arising internal improvement processes.
e)Basic Operational Processes/Procedures (e.g., Calibration/Maintenance ofequipment, Training of Personnel, Risk Assessments, Document Control, RecordControl).
f)

Other operations as deemed appropriate.

Note: It is understandable that although a single management system is applicable to all sites,
there may be site specific processes and regulatory requirements which could vary to reflect theactivities performed at each site.

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6.

5.8

This organization shall appoint a contact person(s) to be responsible for the integrated
accreditation for these following activities, but not limited to:a)
implementation of the Management system across all locations/sites.
b)coordination of the assessments.
c)scope expansion requests.
d)communication with each location/site.
e)financial issues related to accreditation activities.
f)maintenance of relevant records to ensure the system is consistent with the Main
facility’s management processes.

5.9

Each site at all locations shall provide IAS with a representative Technical Contact. This
must be included in the application form for Integrated Accreditation.

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
6.1

The initial assessment of a main facility will include an assessment of the main facility andall associated sites requested for accreditation. The assessment shall include all theintegrated processes, supervision, and management of the other sites’ services.

Note: For the main facility and satellite locations that are already accredited by IAS, the next
assessments will be planned and in consultation with the Main facility and due date of next
assessment.

7.

6.2

The Main facility’s capability and compliance will be reviewed at every reassessment toensure compliance.

6.3

Each site is separately assessed to verify compliance and implementation of:a) IAS accreditation requirements and associated policies.
b) Organization’s internal procedures.
c) Regulatory requirements

6.4

Technical assessments are performed for each site based on the site’s scope ofaccreditation as approved for that site. A unique report is issued after every assessmentof each site.

6.5

Any issues identified during the assessment of a Main facility may affect the accreditation
status of the satellite locations and vice -versa.

OBLIGATIONS OF THE CAB AND IAS
7.1

IAS shall be informed within 30 days of any changes affecting the corporate structure,procedures, or processes, for all or any of the sites and/or locations under its accreditation.

7.2

Main facility and each of the associated sites shall apply separately to IAS for accreditation
for a specific accreditation program, providing relevant information as requested in theapplication form upon request to IAS.

7.3

Application and renewal fees are applicable to each location/site included in the Integrated
Accreditation certificate as per the IAS current fee schedule for each Accreditation
Program.
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IAS shall inform the Main applicant and its sites on the acceptance of their application after
all requirements are met in accordance with this policy.

7.5

Existing accreditations can be transferred and integrated by sending IAS a written request
to the appropriate Program Manager (PM) along with all the relevant applications.

7.6

IAS PM reviews each request separately and decides on the eligibility for the organization
to have Integrated accreditation.

7.7

A CAB having separate accreditations may also apply to transfer these accreditations into
an integrated accreditation approach.

7.8

Site specific assessment will be scheduled based on current assessment timeframes forexisting accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies.

7.9

Additional locations/sites can be added at any given point after an application is submitted
and successful completion of an assessment activity.

8. APPLICATIONThe relevant application
IASinfo@iasonline.org.

form

canbeobtained

uponrequestthrough

the******************************

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