Skip to content
VTValiTracAI

Procedure · SOP-20

Externally Provided Products and Services

Evaluating, selecting, monitoring and re-evaluating suppliers of calibration, consumables, and subcontracted work.

Get the pack — $299Download 3 free samples

Purpose

To define how the Laboratory defines its requirements for, evaluates, selects, approves, monitors and re-evaluates external providers of products and services that affect laboratory activities, verifies conformity before use, and controls subcontracted calibration, so that only suitable external products and services are used.

What is inside

10 sections, about 3 pages when printed.

  1. 1. Purpose
  2. 2. Scope
  3. 3. References
  4. 4. Definitions
  5. 5. Responsibilities
  6. 6. Procedure
  7. Records generated by this procedure
  8. Monitoring and performance indicators
  9. Assessment readiness notes
  10. Related documents

Records it generates

Applying this procedure produces the following records, which are the evidence an assessor samples.

  • –Supplier evaluations and re-evaluations
  • –Approved supplier list with scope, status and performance notes
  • –Accreditation scope verification records
  • –Purchase orders with requirements
  • –Receipt verification (CHK-06, inspection records)
  • –Customer agreement to subcontracting

What an assessor looks for

The document closes with these points, so you can check your own practice before someone else does.

  • –Selecting a reference standard's certificate and checking that the provider's scope was verified to cover the range and uncertainty, with a record of the check.
  • –Checking that a purchase order specified the points, uncertainty and accredited certificate.
  • –Confirming customer agreement for any subcontracted work and the identification of subcontracted results on the certificate.
  • –Reviewing how a supplier problem was handled.

Before you use it

  • Replace every square-bracket token, starting with [LABORATORY NAME], [ADDRESS] and [EFFECTIVE DATE]. The full token list is in GD-01 Read Me First.
  • Have the content technically reviewed against how your laboratory actually works, then approved by the responsible manager before it becomes a controlled document.
  • Update the Word fields after editing so the table of contents and page numbers are correct: select all, then press F9.
  • Record the document in your own document register and set its review date.
  • Delete the assessment readiness notes if you do not want them in your controlled version; they are guidance for you, not requirements.

Related documents

This is an original template published by ValiTrac. It does not reproduce the text of ISO/IEC 17025 or of any accreditation body publication, and it does not by itself confer or guarantee accreditation. Customise, review and approve it before use.