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.

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.