WHY ACCREDITED EVALUATION?

Usually the reason for getting something independently evaluated is to confirm it meets specific requirements in order to reduce risks. Obvious examples are product failure, health risks, company reputation or to meet legal or customer requirements. Anything or anyone can be evaluated - products, equipment, people, management systems or organisations.

Accreditation by UKAS means that evaluators i.e. testing and calibration laboratories, certification and inspection bodies have been assessed against internationally recognised standards to demonstrate their competence, impartiality and performance capability.

It is the ability to distinguish between a proven, competent evaluator that ensures that the selection of a laboratory, certification or inspection body is an informed choice and not a gamble. UKAS accreditation means the evaluator can show to its customer that it has been successful at meeting the requirements of international accreditation standards.

This means that the customer reduces the risk of selecting an incompetent evaluator and paying for, or more seriously, acting upon invalid results.

BUYING WITH CONFIDENCE

Trust is placed with suppliers in a variety of ways: past experience, recommendation, brand preference and so on. The greater the familiarity the more confident the purchasing decision. In today's large competitive business market it isn't always possible to buy from 'known' sources. Reassurance is needed to maintain trading confidence. Independent evaluation is the principle source of this reassurance and such confidence is underpinned by UKAS accreditation.

Accreditation by UKAS benefits its direct customers, their customers and purchasers by building confidence in a range of suppliers and enabling choice. It also encourages free, but trustworthy markets, enabling innovation and reduced regulation.

REDUCING RISK - THE BENEFITS OF INDEPENDENT EVALUATION...

Almost since Benjamin Disraeli declared that "elevating the condition of the people" was a responsibility of government, a framework has evolved to create confidence in the market place and in our public services. Trust is placed in the products and services on offer often without a second thought by the customer, such are the regulations and standards against which products are manufactured and services provided.

... For Government

There are many duties placed on government departments, local authorities and other agencies to ensure that trust is maintained. Whether it be health, water quality, food, consumer goods or transport safety, for example, the public sector provides the framework for the assurance that goods and services are safe and the environment we live in is clean and secure.

UKAS is already in collaboration with a range of government departments that are now developing schemes to either raise standards or implement new ones as a means of increasing public confidence.

Particularly, UKAS can reduce the need for each government department to employ its own specialist assessment resource. Using the accredited route has the advantage of a single transparent and repeatable approach. Over time this should improve consistency, resulting in better risk management. At the same time it should eliminate the cost of reinventing the wheel, thus contributing to the drive for open and modern government.

Accreditation by UKAS can also limit the need for government to regulate industry and the professions. It provides an alternative means of ensuring the reliability of activities that have the potential to impact on public confidence or the national reputation.

UKAS, where requested, assesses organisations and recommends to government their appointment as Notified Bodies as required by EU Directives and Regulations.

... For Business

Companies big and small buy independent evaluations either through choice (to reduce the risk of product failure for example) or as a consequence of legal requirements (such as health and safety regulations). Most commonly these evaluations are calibration of equipment, product testing, inspection of equipment and certification of quality management systems.

Too many of Britain's companies run the risk of undermining their long-term success by purchasing independent evaluations that are not UKAS accredited.

The risks associated with not using UKAS accredited evaluators include:

• Product failure as result of relying on invalid test results
• Increased costs caused by inaccurate measurement (as a consequence of poorly calibrated equipment)
• Legal action arising from inadequately inspected equipment resulting in accidents
• Rejected tenders and orders by not being able to support products claims with a UKAS accredited certificate or test report

Accreditation by UKAS also brings benefits:

• Market access; for companies with ambitions to export accredited testing is vitally important to avoid the cost and time involved in re-testing products.
• Due diligence; using a UKAS accredited body to carry out an independent evaluation helps demonstrate due diligence in the event of legal action
• Accredited testing and calibration laboratories are a superb source of impartial advice and knowledge transfer leading to product development opportunities

ACCREDITATION AND GLOBAL TRADE

Accreditation is used worldwide. In most developed economies there is a body similar to the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. UKAS is this country's signatory to European and international agreements to facilitate the breaking down of technical barriers to trade.

It is important for goods and services tested in the UK to be accepted in Europe and worldwide without the need for additional testing. Increasingly, accreditation is the means of achieving this.

UKAS is recognised internationally through European and world multilateral recognition agreements. This recognition enables government to use accredited bodies to meet obligations under world trading agreements e.g. compliance with EU Directives and the WTO TBT (World Trade Organisation Technical Barriers to Trade) Agreement.

UKAS represents the United Kingdom on three European and international bodies - the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

RECOGNISING A UKAS ACCREDITED EVALUATOR

There is one symbol that is common to all activities accredited by UKAS - the Royal Crown. This signifies Government recognition. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has licensed UKAS to use accreditation Marks featuring the Royal Crown and to sub-license the use of these Marks to UKAS accredited organisations.

These Marks allow prospective users of accredited services to make an informed choice. They should enable them to make a better choice.