A2LA Accredidation

[Mike]

First. . . just because one person from AFMETCAL said something one time. . . means about as much as me telling you someone from your company said something one time and therefore I no longer trust your company.   AFMETCAL is an organizaton made up of people. . . and believe or not there as many disagreements among the team as there are in any other lab.   Yes, they do try to come to agreement on some issues, but when it comes down to it, the individual auditor makes the call based on his/her own experience, which may very well be less than the person they are evaluating.   

Same goes for any assessors under any system though.   I think it's just silly to discount the whole process and organization cuz they made a bad call once. . . I bet I could find someone in your lab to make a bad call and discount your lab's credibility just as easily.

I don't know the last time you've been through AFMETCAL. . . but they now target critical lab processes and not just whatever is left on the shelf. . . they will call in items if need be.   The process is very different now.   They still do a fair share of bunnies to evaluate 3-levels and what-not.   

They do check a lot of BS. . . but overall I think you have to be a fairly good lab to pass.   The object isn't really to fail labs. . . it really should be to assess minimum capability. . . like a restaurant getting their health license.   My two cents. . . I'm not necessarily a big fan of AFMETCAL either. . . but I don't think A2LA or 17025 are the end-all to beat all either.

[flew-da-coup]

Mike, by no means do I believe that ISO 17025 ( A2LA ) is where it needs to be, but I believe that they are going in the right direction. Your point is taken in your last post , but my point is that AFMETCAL are not Gods and your post stated the same.

[Mike]

Absolutely. . . AFMETCAL auditors are no more qualified than the average SNCO in the field, which is fairly well qualified. . . but certainly not gods!!



Cheers!

[Mike]

Not to mention that I think a 3rd party audit of AF TOs and uncertaintly budgets is sorely needed!

[flew-da-coup]

Agreed.

[MIRCS]

Ahhh.................group hug

[flew-da-coup]

Okay, you are out of the Navy now. NO more guys hugging on each other.

[Old-Navy]

KUMBAYA!!!!!!

[RFCAL]

OH GOD!!! Please do not let an AB add ratings.They can't figure  most of this stuff out now!!