UKAS - THE UNITED KINGDOM ACCREDITATION SERVICE
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these evaluators. UKAS is a non-profit-distributing company, limited by guarantee, and operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government through the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
We all want to have confidence in the goods and services that we use. Trust is essential whether in the high street, the supermarket or buying as a business. But how can there be confidence in the market? How can we be sure of essential standards?
Trade is now global. We can order, purchase and receive goods faster and from a wider range of sources than ever before. Suppliers are finding that customers are more demanding, while consumers seek assurances that products and services match the claims made about them.
There is a means of building trust in the market place and in public services.
Accreditation by UKAS is the key to ensuring that consumers, suppliers, purchasers and specifiers can have confidence in the quality of goods and in the provision of services throughout the supply chain.
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.
INSPEC International is accredited by UKAS for:-
- Testing of Personal Protective Equipment, No. 0316 - View our UKAS schedule
- Certification of Quality Management Systems, No. 027 - View our UKAS schedule