Nailing Compliance: Building and Maintaining an AI-powered ISO 17025 Compliant Environmental Testing Lab

Laboratory Informatics
Oral Presentation

Presented by A. Apte
Prepared by M. Kanti Chatterjee, M. Kanti Chatterjee, S. Paul
CloudLIMS Lab Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd, 142, Electronic Complex, Pardesipura, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 452010, India


Contact Information: [email protected]; 91-9399361654

ABSTRACT

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is a hallmark of quality for environmental testing laboratories, ensuring they deliver reliable and defensible test results. However, achieving and maintaining compliance is often a complex process, presenting challenges for both new and established labs. A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) provides a strategic foundation for navigating the intricacies of the standard, bridging operational and compliance gaps, and driving long-term success.
This presentation will delineate how a LIMS can simplify compliance management for environmental labs. For instance, effective trend analysis, a critical component of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 clause 7.7.1, can be challenging for laboratories. With the advanced control charting feature, a LIMS facilitates trend analysis using statistical techniques, enabling labs to swiftly identify process variations. These insights help labs detect random errors in test methods, evaluate the accuracy of analytical instruments, and even monitor less obvious parameters such as personnel competence, as required by clause 6.2.5(f). LIMS-generated competency charts and custom training reports provide actionable data to compare the relative performance of staff.
The Quality Control (QC) management functionality in LIMS further bolsters compliance by verifying test results through automated comparisons with preset criteria. Moreover, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into LIMS empowers environmental laboratories to make data-driven decisions, proactively identify potential issues, and implement corrective actions effectively.
A LIMS facilitates predictive maintenance of equipment by issuing timely alerts and maintaining comprehensive records of calibration and maintenance activities for audits. This proactive approach not only prevents equipment downtime but also ensures the accuracy of test results. Furthermore, a LIMS flags vendors that provide poor quality products and helps set competitive pricing for the services offered.
By leveraging an AI-powered LIMS, environmental testing laboratories can enhance data quality, reduce analytical errors, and optimize their operations, ultimately achieving ISO 17025 accreditation.