UCTS receives ISO certification for its mechanical engineering labs

SIBU: The mechanical engineering laboratories of University College of Technology Sarawak ( UCTS) have helped the institution earn the ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 certification from the Department of Standards Malaysia ( DSM).

In a statement issued yesterday, UCTS said the certification is proof of the laboratories at the university are technically competent to produce reliable and accurate testing results.

“The ISO 17025 certification implies the capability of performing reliable and accurate mechanical testing, specifically tensile testing in the mechanical engineering laboratories at UCTS, which are equipped with wellmaintained and fully- calibrated equipment,” it said.

The International Organisation for Standardisation ( ISO) 17025: 2005 certification is the main benchmark for standard, focusing on the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

In his remarks, UCTS School of Engineering and Technology ( SET) dean Prof Mohd Shahril Osman said: “Getting ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation is a significant achievement for UCTS. The school (SET) is committed to being the best in providing quality services and education.

“This is a big step towards our goal of becoming a global technical university founded on science and technology. The laboratories are open for consultation and public services specifically in mechanical testing. This designation means that wherever our customers are and whatever technical services that they use, they can be confident that the test specifications are consistently executed in the same manner per ASTM/IEC standards.”

The MS ISO/IEC 17025 standard indicates that SET laboratories have formally demonstrated specific technical competence to produce precise, accurate test data.

Under the standardisation, the assessment covers technical competence of staff, validity and appropriateness of test method, traceability of measurements and calibrations to national standards, handling of test samples and quality assurance of test data.

This process ensures that the analytical results would be of the highest- quality possible, aiding clients in their decision-making process.

The MS/IEC ISO 17025 quality managerDrDayangSitiHazimmah Ali commented: “This was not an easy process to go through but going through the process itself made us a better operator.

“The productivity savings have helped to offset some of the added costs of ISO – this further improves our accuracy. In looking for a testing provider, ISO and Mechanical Laboratory should be at the top of the list of requirements – the benefits are undeniable.”