Accreditation

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In systems engineering accreditation is the formal attestation that a model or simulation is acceptable for use for a specific purpose. Accreditation is conferred by the organization best positioned to make the judgment that the model or simulation in question is acceptable. That organization may be an operational user, the program office, or a contractor, depending upon the purposes intended.[1]

Accreditation is a process in which certification of competency, authority, or credibility is presented.

Organizations that issue credentials or certify third parties against official standards are themselves formally accredited by accreditation bodies (such as UKAS); hence they are sometimes known as "accredited certification bodies".[2] The accreditation process ensures that their certification practices are acceptable, typically meaning that they are competent to test and certify third parties, behave ethically and employ suitable quality assurance.

One example of accreditation is the accreditation of testing laboratories and certification specialists that are permitted to issue official certificates of compliance with established technical standards, such as physical, chemical, forensic, quality, and security standards.[3].

Accreditation bodies in these fields usually operate according to ISO/IEC 17011.[4] Accredited entities in specific sectors must provide evidence to the accreditation body that they conform to other standards in the same series:

  • BS EN ISO/IEC 17020: "General criteria for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection" (2004)
  • BS EN ISO/IEC 17021: "Conformity assessment. Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems" (2011)
  • BS EN ISO/IEC 17024: "Conformity Assessment. General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons" (2003)
  • BS EN ISO/IEC 17025: "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" (2005)

Contents

[edit] Fields that involve accreditation

Accreditation processes are used in a wide variety of fields:

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Systems Engineering Fundamentals. Defense Acquisition University Press, 2001
  2. ^ USDA ISO Guide 65 Program Accreditation for Certification Bodies, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, August 9, 2007
  3. ^ Accreditation of Certification Bodies, Forest Stewardship Council website (accessed January 25, 2008)
  4. ^ BS EN ISO/IEC 17011: "Conformity assessment. General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies" (2004).

[edit] External links

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