Quality management within the Eurofins Group
by Brian McLean, Eurofins Food Testing, UK
Eurofins places high priority on Quality Assurance and Quality Control in its laboratories as stated in its Mission Statement and Corporate Values. The Quality Management Systems for its Food and Environment Divisions are being further strengthened by the creation of two international Quality Groups: the Food Quality Assurance Management Group (created in 2011) and the Environment Quality Assurance Management Group (created in 2013) which are working to standardise the Quality Assurance practices of its participating laboratories.
Within the Group, quality is evaluated by the appropriate National Accreditation Bodies via accreditation and certification. The main focus is accreditation to the ISO 17025 standard for "the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories". However, every laboratory is subject to many other audits including a peer review by Eurofins own staff as part of cross country audits.
The objectives of the International Quality Groups are to:
- Increase customer satisfaction
- Ensure data equivalency among Eurofins labs
- Ensure that international accounts (multi-national clients) have a consistent level of service
- Define and implement best quality practices in the Divisions
- Enhance quality cooperation
The current work-plan includes the following matters:
- A standardised quality policy
- Transparency between laboratories proficiency test results
- Identifying and implementing Quality Metrics to compare laboratory performance
- Internal cross country audits
- Harmonised practices via creation and implementation of quality documentation on subjects such as: management of uncertainty, characteristics of methods, quality metrics, quality recognitions
- Identification of good practice in the implementation of an electronic Quality Management System
This initiative will give clients the assurance that the standard of service is consistent across the Eurofins Group and that the practices of Eurofins laboratories are continuously being standardised, assessed and improved by scientific and quality assurance staff from other countries within the Group as part of its continuous improvement program.
Contact: LaureAmelieGonthier@eurofins.com
