Who can participate on Interlaboratory comparisons in the area of NDT? < Home

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Who can participate on Interlaboratory comparisons in the area of NDT?

Interlaboratory comparisons of NDT lab within Proficiency Testing according to EN ISO /IEC 17043:2010, which is also called “Conformity assessment – General requirements on proficiency testing”, focuses on each NDT lab, who declares their interest in continuous improvements – continuous assessing their quality, efficiency, trust to their customers and/or before the certification bodies in the services that each lab provides.

Goals in Proficiency Testing

The typical goals of Interlaboratory comparisons are:

• Quality performance assessment in providing NDT services and its comparisons with other NDT labs
• Continuous improvements in quality level of NDT services of participants
• Continuous improvements in management practises of NDT labs
• Strengthening customers’ confidence in quality of offered services
• Compliance with accreditation requirements

Being fully and permanently confident with the performance of each NDT lab is not only essential for the labs themselves and customers and regulation bodies, but it is also a key factor for the accreditation and authorization organisations. Additionally, ATG registers a growth in demand for Proficiency testing for other activities of conformity assessment such as inspection and certification of the products.

ATG compliance as an NDT proficiency testing provider

Based on the compliance of the requirements of EN ISO / IEC 17043, since 2013 a separate department of ATG s.r.o. entitled “ATG Proficiency Testing Provider” (abbreviation PZZ ATG) granted accreditation by the Czech Accreditation Institute and a valid accreditation certificate issued. PZZ ATG was assigned the accreditation mark Z 7012.

In April 27, 2017, “Agreement of Mutual Recognition of Accredited Conformity Assessment Results EA MLA” for Proficiency testing according to EN ISO/IEC 17043 had been signed. This European agreement means that the signatories acknowledge issued accreditations between each other and the protocols, test reports or certificates issued by accredited representatives of its signatories. The agreement of EA MLA has applied for awarded ATG accreditation for the area of Proficiency testing for NDT labs in MT, PT, RT, UT, VT, ET and LT methods.

Processing of performing the service by the Proficiency Testing Provider in NDT

PZZ ATG (Proficiency Testing Provider ATG) has regularly announced its calls for NDT Proficiency testing programs on ATG’s websites (www.atg.cz) for MT, PT, RT, UT and VT methods, with preference for the products with welds. The programs for ET and LT methods and other production sectors for previously mentioned methods are announced based on an interest from NDT labs. The participation of NDT lab in the program is realized on the filled-in and submitted application only. Minimum number of participants in program is 3 and maximum 15 labs.

PZZ ATG’s best effort is that every participant would receive the results within one-year period since the beginning of sequential distribution of the proficiency test sample. Each participant receives the test sample in sequential distribution, instruction to conduct test, form for registering testing results and instructions for testing. The participant carries out practical test of the sample according to instructions and registers the results into a form.

The assessment of the performance of the participant is to be made in accordance with the evaluation of the reference values in the way they are stated in the instruction to conduct test. The assessment of the test forms from the participants is carried out after the sequential distribution of sample has been completed.

After the assessment has been done and after the payment of invoice for participants, every participant (NDT lab) receives the following documents:
• Final report of the participant, which includes particular performance assessment for every participant (NDT lab) with the recommendations. This report is subject to strict confidentiality and therefore, it is only provided to particular lab
• Summarizing final report that incorporates anonymous performance assessment of all participants in the program
• Certificate of participation and result in Proficiency testing program
Every participant (laboratory) can complain about results of assessment of NDT proficiency testing by written form.

The comparison of performance of staff of NDT lab

There is an additional service upon the request of participants of Proficiency testing, which enables to independently and unbiased comparison of performance of the NDT lab’s staff for particular method.


This additional service does not come under ČIA accreditation EN ISO/IEC 17043!

In order to use this additional service, the company has to submit an application and to be registered as a participant in particular program of Proficiency testing (further PZZ). Principles, values, processes, forms, assessments, documentations and the results including issued certificates for PZZ labs are not affected by this implemented service.

To submit an application for additional service of the performance of NDT lab’s staff (PVP), every participant states that in standard application. If the participant submits, he/she will receive both standard inputs for PZZ performance and protocols for PVP performance.

To carry out test and issue the protocols for PVP shall be performed before carrying out and issuing protocols for PZZ tests. Time for carrying out PVP test for one operator is one working day. The statement of NDT lab’s operator for maintaining confidentiality of test sample and restrain on communicating the results of exam to the third parties is essential part of PVP protocol. The assessment of PVP protocols is conducted within completion of PZZ program. The assessment has been doing the same way as in PZZ case. The original of the protocols including assessed forms are shipped back to lab together with PZZ assessment.

The price for providing PVP per one operator is listed in the valid price list of PZZ ATG.

How to get actual information?

The updates on PZZ ATG’s activities, calls (application form, instructions,…), prices, anonymous results and statistics can be found on:
• ATG’s websites – www.atg.cz, in the section “Proficiency testing”
• At Program Coordinator: Mr. Jiří Pitter, e-mail: pitterj@atg.cz

Finally, some statistics

Since the duration of accredited activity, i.e. since 2013, The Proficiency testing provider of ATG
• Has announced 45 programs of Proficiency testing for ET, LT, MT, PT, RT, UT and VT methods.
• 112 NDT labs from 20 European countries (including Israel) participated in programs.
• More than 60% labs participates the programs regularly.
• Overall number of participants in all programs are 445.
It is the aim of PZZ ATG to satisfy as many clients in programs of Proficiency NDT testing as possible.

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