Good Quality Management Practices for Conformity Assessment Services

The elements of conformity assessment include inspection, testing, calibration, certification, validation, and verification, and which are used in the fields of inquiry, innovation, process and product improvement, productivity increase, product development, product compliance, health, safety, and environment. The contribution of conformity assessment applies directly in two lines: as support for adequate production in the voluntary sector and as an element of verification in the regulated sector of market surveillance. In global markets, evaluation needs are identified to demonstrate commitment and management regarding various issues, such as quality, occupational safety, environmental protection, sustainability, fair trade, information security, and ethical practices. The role of the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) is essential to demonstrating compliance with established requirements. Good Quality Management Practices (GQP) seek to ensure that the performance of CABs executes homogeneously and similarly anywhere in the world. The best way to demonstrate this is through the accreditation of operations with competent organizations that maintain mutual recognition agreements, with recognition in destination markets of the products or services that a country or region exports. The CABs base their management systems on compliance with the requirements of the ISO 17000 family standards, which establish a framework that includes technical development of appropriate methods and technology, as well as the development of competent personnel who can comply appropriately with conformity assessment services.