ANSI and ACLASS Announce Joint Accreditation Programs
Washington, D.C. | Arlington, VA-The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board - ACLASS brand (ACLASS) have agreed to conduct joint assessments to promote the global recognition of services provided by product certification bodies, inspection bodies, and testing and calibration laboratories.
“Combining the assessment requirements of the ANSI and ACLASS accreditation programs provides a cost-effective, value-added resource to those organizations that are conducting multiple conformity assessment activities,” says Keith Greenaway, vice president of ACLASS.
The joint programs are based on internationally accepted standards and guidelines such as:
ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC 17020, General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
Via multilateral recognition arrangements (MLAs) with regional and international bodies, accreditations issued by ANSI and ACLASS are recognized by peer organizations around the globe.
ANSI is a signatory of MLAs with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) for product certification bodies, and is a recognized accreditation body for the telecommunication certification activities under the NIST-NVCASE program.
ACLASS is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), and Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) MLAs for ISO/IEC 17025.
“The recognition of ANSI and ACLASS in both regional and global markets delivers a powerful layer of credibility to organizations seeking conformity assessment oversight,” says Roger Muse, ACLASS director of sales and marketing.
“Combining the assessment requirements of the ANSI and ACLASS accreditation programs provides a cost-effective, value-added resource to those organizations that are conducting multiple conformity assessment activities,” says Keith Greenaway, vice president of ACLASS.
The joint programs are based on internationally accepted standards and guidelines such as:
ISO/IEC Guide 65, General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems
ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
ISO/IEC 17020, General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection
Via multilateral recognition arrangements (MLAs) with regional and international bodies, accreditations issued by ANSI and ACLASS are recognized by peer organizations around the globe.
ANSI is a signatory of MLAs with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) for product certification bodies, and is a recognized accreditation body for the telecommunication certification activities under the NIST-NVCASE program.
ACLASS is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC), and Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) MLAs for ISO/IEC 17025.
“The recognition of ANSI and ACLASS in both regional and global markets delivers a powerful layer of credibility to organizations seeking conformity assessment oversight,” says Roger Muse, ACLASS director of sales and marketing.
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