WACEL Laboratory Accreditation Program

In 1982, WACEL developed its first Quality Assurance Laboratory Accreditation Program. Today, WACEL laboratory accreditation is a requirement of membership. Every laboratory in the WACEL region as defined by the Board of Directors must be accredited to be a WACEL member.

WACEL regards the Quality Assurance Laboratory Accreditation Program as one of its most significant contributions to improved practice among engineering laboratories. The Program identifies criteria that laboratories must meet in order to perform their work in a conscientious and capable manner, and helps assure that accredited laboratories in fact meet, if not surpass, those criteria. The Program therefore provides valuable reassurance to the public, governmental agencies, clients and others that accredited laboratories can perform their work in the proper manner, so their findings comprise an accurate indication of conditions assayed. Of course, no program can guarantee an accredited laboratory will at all times perform in a proper manner, that equipment will at all times be in proper calibration, etc. However, the process of seeking accreditation demonstrates a firm's concern for proper performance, just as obtaining accreditation demonstrates its ability to provide proper performance at the time accreditation was conferred. The program also recognizes that quality assurance is an ongoing and ever-improving process. For that reason, the program constantly seeks to maintain high quality standards through annual review audits.

The program's scope includes: an examination of documents bearing upon an engineering laboratory's organization, management and operation; an inspection of the engineering laboratory to view facilities and equipment and observe daily operations in progress; conduct of those follow-up activities necessary to assure any deficiencies or other concerns have been properly handled before final accreditation is issued, and annual audits to assess if the laboratory continues to operate in a manner consistent with the requirements of the WACEL Laboratory Accreditation Program.

Accreditation does not include testing of equipment for proper operation and calibration. Such activities are performed by other agencies. However, accreditation does include a review of other agencies' calibration and other quality-related reports, as well as documentation of actions taken to help correct any deficiencies identified.

Copies of the WACEL Laboratory Accreditation Program Manual are available from the WACEL office at no charge to members and $50 to nonmembers. Copies may be ordered by issuing a request along with appropriate payment to WACEL, 7900 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 305, Bethesda, MD, 20814; 301-652-7925.