Laboratory Administration Seminar

The laboratory administration seminar is designed for State weights and measures laboratory staff to help them fully meet the criteria of Handbook 143 and ISO/IEC 17025. It is especially useful for new laboratory staff or where previous non-conformities have been identified through annual reviews and for newer staff who would benefit from organized/structured training on laboratory quality management system topics. Participants will apply workshop concepts on their own laboratory documents during the seminar to improve their quality management system documents and to develop a complete Recognition submission. Preparation for Accreditation will also be covered since the criteria for Recognition and Accreditation are identical.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this seminar, using the notes, resources, demonstrations, and discussions provided in the course, you will be able to:

• IMPROVE current laboratory quality management system policies, procedures and documents; and
• APPLY and IMPLEMENT systems in their laboratories that comply with the requirements of NIST Handbook 143, Program Handbook.

Technology Requirement(s):

A laptop computer with all applicable software for working on the documents is essential. The training laboratory/classroom has access to a printer and copier, but participants must bring or be able to use a USB memory stick for transferring files for printing. A complete set of all editable laboratory documentation (quality management system, admin procedures, control charts and so on) is required. Participants must know how to use and work with applicable Word and Excel files from their laboratory. You may not have Internet/network access in the OWM Classroom, so be sure you have all files you need before leaving your laboratory.

Materials & Supplies:

Staff must bring editable copies of laboratory documents from the Quality Management System (Quality Manual, Associated Appendices, Administrative Procedures, and Forms) that they can work on and edit during the workshop. Participants must have authority to edit and save the files and have all associated passwords.

Prerequisite(s):

There are no prerequisites other than a familiarity with their own laboratory Quality Management System. Staff must spend time gathering and reviewing all associated laboratory documents prior to attendance. Attending after successful completion of the Fundamentals of Metrology course is preferred and will be helpful, though is not required.

Pre-Work:

Please review and be familiar the laboratory resources posted on this page: http://www.nist.gov/pml/wmd/labmetrology/lab-resources.cfm. Each annual submission letter summarizes specific information from Table 1. You will need to review the latest version as posted on this site. You will also need full administrative authority to work on and edit laboratory documents. You may not have Internet/network access in the OWM Classroom, so be sure you have all files you need before leaving your laboratory. Examples of documents include, but are not limited to:

• Quality manual, associated appendices, and laboratory forms;
• Administrative procedures (SAPs);
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs), if modified or laboratory developed, including documented exceptions;
• Metrological traceability hierarchies and GMP 11/13 application files;
• Uncertainty tables;
• Control charts, range charts, and measurement assurance system assessments;
• 2011 to 2016 PT reports, PT Plan for your RMAP, and 4 year assessment; and
• Latest management review, recognition and/or accreditation body assessment(s), internal quality audit and internal technical audit.

You will also be asked how much time you spent in preparation for this class – so please keep track of the time spent reviewing laboratory files and records specifically in support of this workshop. Do not include time you would normally spend in preparing for and submitting your annual Recognition package in your total time.

Post-Work:

None

Minimum Requirement(s):

Successful completion requires 100 % attendance and work on the application exercises noted throughout the class.

Audience:

State laboratory personnel who have responsibilities for developing, implementing, and/or improving the Quality Management System in their laboratory as well as those who are seeking OWM Recognition and/or NVLAP accreditation or improvements to support Recognition/Accreditation. This course is NOT available for non weights and measures participants at this time (requests for exceptions or waivers must be addressed to the instructor with suitable justification, Georgia Harris).

Cost:

There is no charge to participate in the Laboratory Administration Workshop; however, participants are responsible for travel, hotel and meal expenses.

Instructor(s):

Georgia Harris, Val Miller, and Elizabeth Gentry
Office of Weights and Measures,
(301) 975 - 4014
Email: g.harris [at] nist.gov (g[dot]harris[at]nist[dot]gov)