THE LAB
Impartiality
A laboratory result is worth exactly as much as the independence of the people who produced it.
CONTROLLED DOCUMENT
Impartiality Policy
The purpose of this Impartiality Policy is to ensure that QSI Nexus Testing and Calibration Labs demonstrate impartiality and integrity in all testing and calibration activities in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors and third parties involved in testing and calibration activities at QSI Nexus Testing and Calibration Labs.
Impartiality
Management are committed to conducting all testing and calibration activities impartially and objectively, without any bias or conflict of interest. Responsibility for impartiality rests with management and is not delegated.
Conflict of interest
Employees, contractors and third parties involved in testing and calibration activities shall declare any actual or potential conflict of interest that may affect their impartiality. Declarations are made to the Laboratory Manager on appointment and annually thereafter, and are held in a maintained register. Where a conflict exists, the person is removed from the affected work and the removal is recorded.
Independence
The laboratory shall maintain independence from external influences that may jeopardise impartiality, including undue commercial, financial or other pressures. No person may direct a result, and no result is contingent on any commercial relationship.
Relationship with the QSI group
The laboratory operates within QSI Cert Co., which is also a certification body. This relationship is disclosed openly and the boundary between the two is treated as absolute. Laboratory records are not shared with the certification side, and certification records are not shared with the laboratory. A client certified by QSI receives the same service, the same terms, the same rates and the same numbers as a client who is not. Testing and calibration are never offered, bundled or represented as a route to a certificate, and are not offered as management-system consultancy to any organisation the group certifies.
Organisational structure
The organisational structure shall be designed to facilitate impartiality and prevent any undue influence on testing and calibration activities.
Personnel competence
Employees and contractors involved in testing and calibration activities shall possess the necessary competence, qualifications and training to ensure impartiality and integrity in their work.
Decision-making
Decisions related to testing and calibration activities shall be made on objective evidence and scientific principles, without bias or preference towards any specific outcome.
Transparency
The laboratory shall maintain transparency in all aspects of testing and calibration activities, including the communication of results, methodologies and any potential conflicts of interest.
Confidentiality
Confidential information obtained during testing and calibration activities shall be protected and handled in accordance with the Confidentiality Policy, to maintain impartiality and integrity.
Impartiality risk identification
Risks to impartiality are identified and reviewed on an ongoing basis, including those arising from ownership, governance, management, personnel, shared resources, finances, contracts, marketing and branding, and payment of sales commission or any other inducement for the referral of new contracts. Identified risks and their mitigation measures are documented.
When a threat is identified
A threat to impartiality is escalated to the Laboratory Manager and reviewed by a person independent of the activity concerned. The threat, the review and the action taken — elimination or documented control — are recorded, and the record is retained. Any client or other party may raise a concern about the impartiality of our work and will receive a written response; raising a concern does not affect how that party’s work is handled.
Continuous improvement
The laboratory shall continuously monitor and review its processes and procedures to identify and address any potential threats to impartiality and integrity.
Compliance
All employees, contractors and third parties involved in testing and calibration activities are required to comply with this policy and related procedures. Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action or termination of contracts.
Review and revision
This policy shall be reviewed regularly to ensure its effectiveness and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements. Any necessary revisions shall be made in a timely manner.
Communication
This policy shall be communicated to all employees, contractors and third parties involved in testing and calibration activities at QSI Nexus Testing and Calibration Labs.
Reference
ISO/IEC 17025:2017, clause 4.1
Issue
Issue 2
Date
Publishes on reissue
Approved by
Dr. Rana Amjad — President / CEO, QSI Nexus Testing and Calibration Labs
Questions or concerns about this policy may be raised with coo@qsinexus.com or lab-mgr@qsinexus.com.
THE LAB
How this works
A laboratory result is worth exactly as much as the independence of the people who produced it.
The commitment
01 / 04Nexus Laboratories is responsible for the impartiality of its testing and calibration activities. Results are determined by what the measurement shows and by nothing else. No commercial relationship, no group relationship and no client pressure changes a reported value.
Staff are free of commercial pressure on results. Nobody in the laboratory is incentivised on outcomes, and nobody outside it can direct a result.
Inside the QSI group
02 / 04Nexus Laboratories operates within QSI Cert Co., which is also a certification body. That relationship is disclosed openly, and the boundary between the two is treated as absolute.
Laboratory records are not shared with the certification side and certification records are not shared with the laboratory. A client who holds certification from QSI receives exactly the same laboratory service, on the same terms, at the same rates, with the same numbers, as a client who does not.
Testing and calibration are technical services. They are not consultancy on a management system, and we do not offer them as such to any organisation we certify.
How risk is managed
03 / 04Risks to impartiality are identified and reviewed on an ongoing basis, including relationships arising from ownership, governance, shared personnel, shared resources and commercial arrangements. Where a risk is identified it is documented, and either eliminated or controlled with the control recorded.
Personnel declare relationships that could reasonably be seen to affect their objectivity, and are removed from work where such a relationship exists.
If you think we have got this wrong
04 / 04Any client, or anyone else, may raise a concern about the impartiality of our work. It will be reviewed by someone independent of the activity concerned, and you will receive a written response. Raising a concern does not affect how your work is handled.
Requests are read at the bench.
Send the sample question or the instrument list. It is read by a bench professional, not routed through a ticket queue. Call +966 59 637 8052 or write to lab-mgr@qsinexus.com.