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CALA

S M L

Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc.

Building Laboratory Excellence

CALA Training Publications

  1. Template for the Design and Development of a Quality Manual for Environmental Laboratories
  2. Quality Control for Environmental Laboratories
  3. Interlaboratory Precision Functions for Analytical Parameters in Environmental Laboratories
  4. Understanding ISO/IEC 17025:2005
  5. Care and Feeding of a Laboratory Quality System
  6. Laboratory Leadership
  7. Proficiency Testing and the Analytical Laboratory
  8. Investigation of Non-conformances through Root Cause Analysis
  9. Internal Calibration in Accredited Laboratories
  10. Managing Accreditation
  11. ISO/IEC 17025:2005 - Changes to the Standard
  12. Measurement Uncertainty for Users of Laboratory Data

Training Publications Summary (.pdf)
Training Publications Order Form (.pdf)  


Template for the Design and Development of a Quality Manual for Environmental Laboratories (UPGRADED 2007)

This document is a 150-page template, which laboratories can adopt to their own requirements.  The template is provided on a compact disc in Word 2000 format.

The structure of the template is congruent with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and allows a laboratory to match these requirements with appropriate sections of the template.  The template includes a sample quality manual and a sample quality procedures document. Topics include:

2007 version 5.1 - 150 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $330.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $450.00 + plus GST/HST

One-day training is available for this course. See http://www.cala.ca/t_QM_Template.pdf
The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp.
Click here to download a sample of the contents of the template


Quality Control for Environmental Laboratories

This document is a 48-page set of instructions for establishing a comprehensive quality control system within an environmental laboratory.  It also includes a 9-page workbook containing quality control examples, exercises, and the answers to the exercises.

"Quality Control for Environmental Laboratories" is applicable to all environmental testing (i.e. organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, microbiology and toxicology) Topics include:

2001 version 4.5 - 48 pages, bound
Member Price $150.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $225.00 + plus GST/HST


Interlaboratory Precision Functions for Analytical Parameters in Environmental Laboratories

This document is a 17-page analysis of PT results for CALA laboratories up to October 2004, and establishes overall program data characteristics (precision functions) for a wide variety of test parameters.   Sample charts are included.

These precision functions can be used by laboratories for establishing assigning conservative values to the Type "A" (statistically derived) uncertainties associated with test results. It does not provide data for Type "B" (method specific) uncertainties contributing to the overall "expanded uncertainty" which is the value sought. 

The annexes contain precision function data (slope and intercept over given concentration ranges) for the following sets of parameters:

Matrix Parameters
Water
  • Inorganic - 31 parameters
  • Microbiology - 2 parameters
  • Organic - 29 parameters
  • Toxicology - 3 parameters
Oil
  • 1 parameter
Air
  • 8 parameters  
Soil/Sediment
  • 15 parameters

 

This document is available in paper copy only.

2004 – Version 1.1 - 17 pages, bound
Member Price $50.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $75.00 + plus GST/HST


Understanding ISO/IEC 17025:2005

This document is a 200+ page binder, which discusses the principles, the nuances and background behind the specific requirements given in ISO/IEC 17025.  It has been prepared by someone with a unique insight into the standard – one of its authors.  Each of the six lessons includes discussion questions and reference materials from the international community regarding specific management and technical requirements. 

This training document also includes 22 discussion/workshop questions designed to assist readers to better understand the requirements in the standard, and their implementation.

"Understanding ISO/IEC 17025:2005" is applicable to all testing and calibration laboratories. Topics include:

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

2006 – Version 1.1 – Over 200 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $150.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST


Care and Feeding of a Laboratory Quality System

This document is a 200+ page binder, which discusses the best practices in maintaining a quality system conformant to ISO/IEC 17025.  The course focuses on how to maintain a quality system that supports the ability of the laboratory to consistently produce valid results.  It is primarily focussed on the technical issues and the support required of a laboratory management system. 

This material has been prepared by someone with a unique insight into the standard – one of its authors.  Each of the six lessons includes discussion questions and reference materials from the international community regarding specific technical requirements and supporting management approaches.

This document also includes 26 discussion/workshop questions designed to assist readers to better understand the most practical methods for maintaining a quality system that meets organisational objectives and retains its conformance to requirements – potentially divergent aims.

"The Care and Feeding of a Laboratory Quality System" is applicable to all testing and calibration laboratories. Topics include:

2006 – Version 1.2 – Over 200 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $150.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST


Laboratory Leadership

This document is a 60+ page binder, which discusses the methods and techniques used by successful leaders – those that can motivate dispirited teams of people to accomplish difficult things under impossible circumstances. The material and the associated one-day Training Course examines approaches that allow leaders to create success in their own organisations.  It contains easy-to-understand approaches based on personal experience.  It focuses on the leadership of laboratories.
 
The two major case studies are drawn from the two most successful companies in the world, MicroSoft and Berkshire-Hathaway.  
 
The material identifies what teams really need from their leaders, in order for the organization, and therefore the leader, to succeed.  It is for the leaders within a laboratory – laboratory owners, and those who manage any aspect of laboratory operations. Or for those preparing for such responsibilities and want to learn successful leadership approaches.
 
Contents

The material in this binder is not yet available as an online training course.
 

2007 – Version 1.0 – Over 60 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $275.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price  $350.00 + plus GST/HST


Proficiency Testing and the Analytical Laboratory

This document is a 80+ page binder, which discusses the use of Proficiency Testing in analytical laboratories.  This course binder identifies the benefits of PT in the lab and the ways a laboratory can make best use of the PT data provided beyond just monitoring lab performance.  It describes how the lab can identify process weaknesses and enhance process strengths. Most labs do not know how to do this.
 
The material in this binder provides information on how to make PT a powerful process improvement tool in the laboratory.   This material represents an approach that is sought by laboratories in enhancing their own QC efforts.

Contents

The material in this binder is not yet available as an online training course.


2007 – Version 1.0 – Over 80 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $300.00 + plus GST/HST


Investigation of Non-conformances through Root Cause Analysis

This document is a 70+ page binder, which discusses the best practices in examining non-conformances in a manner that actually helps improve a lab QMS.  The course is based on the systematic and objective approach that is accepted worldwide. The document helps laboratories to avoid the blame game and conduct root cause analysis that meets the intent and requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. 

Read how to determine when the lab QMS is not supporting the work of the lab staff and the production of consistent results. Many laboratories have difficulty with these processes.  Determination of root cause is a powerful tool that can be used to the benefit of a the laboratory’s own quality system.  However, non conforming conditions are shown to repeat themselves in both accredited and PT-participant laboratories.  For example, documenting that analyst error as a root cause leading to the corrective action of a reprimand is an indication of a problem in the credibility of both the accreditation and PT programs.

Background and Principles

Basic Approaches

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

2006 – Version 1.1 – Over 70 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $150.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST


Internal Calibration in Accredited Laboratories

This document is a 100+ page binder, which discusses the best practices in how to competently propagate uncertainties from calibrated laboratory reference devices to working measurement devices within accredited testing laboratories.  The material applies to temperature, mass and volume measurements only and should not be confused with the effort and training required to do the same type of work as an accredited calibration laboratory, which deals with complexities and types of uncertainty considerations outside the competence of most testing laboratories.

Accredited environmental laboratories are required to demonstrate traceability of measurement with environmental testing.  Traceability is described and defined in CALA A61- CALA Traceability Policy.  This document provides information to laboratory personnel seeking guidance concerning competent approaches in the calibration of their own working instruments. It also includes 7 discussion/workshop questions, and 3 assignments designed to give readers a better understanding of the most practical methods for estimating uncertainties when calibrating laboratory instruments.

"Internal Calibration in Accredited Laboratories " is applicable to all testing laboratories making use of liquid-in-glass thermometers, analytical and top-loading balances, and pipettes.  Material includes:

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

2006 – Version 1.2 – Over 100 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $300.00 + plus GST/HST


Managing Accreditation

This document is a 100+ page binder, which discusses the principles, the nuances and background and the leadership challenges posed by accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. It has been prepared by someone with a unique insight into the standard – one of its authors. Each of the five lessons includes discussion questions and reference materials from the international community regarding specific management and technical requirements.

This training document also includes 17 discussion/workshop questions designed to assist laboratory managers and leaders better understand the requirements in the standard, their implications, and their implementation.

"Managing Accreditation" is applicable to all testing and calibration laboratories. Topics include:

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

2006 – Version 1.1 – Over 100 pages, loose-leaf bound
Member Price $150.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $200.00 + plus GST/HST


ISO/IEC 17025:2005 - Changes to the Standard 

This document is a 80+ page binder, which discusses the changes to the standard from the 1999 version.  These changes were the result of the ISO directive in 2001 to align ISO/IEC 17025 with the management system wording in the 2000 version of ISO 9000. It has been prepared by someone with a unique insight into the change – one of its authors.  The two lessons include discussion questions and reference materials from the international community regarding specific management and technical requirements. 

This training document also includes 4 discussion/workshop questions designed to assist readers to better understand the requirements in the standard, and their implementation.

"ISO/IEC 17025:2005 - Changes to the Standard" is applicable to all testing and calibration laboratories. Topics include:

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

2006 – Version 1.1 – Over 80 pages, loose-leaf bound  
Member Price $50.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $75.00 + plus GST/HST


Measurement Uncertainty for Users of Laboratory Data

This document is a 100+ page binder, which discusses the rationale, requirements and uses of uncertainty of measurement as it applies to laboratory testing and calibration results. This topic is one of the least understood requirements within the laboratory competence standard, ISO/IEC 17025, and can often cause confusion for the recipients of the data.  Many regulatory agencies are now faced with the concept when interpreting data that is close to specification / regulatory limits.

This course and binder has been prepared by someone with a unique insight into the standard, and the topic – one of its authors of the standard and the facilitator of the CALA Policy on the Estimation of Uncertainty in Environmental Measurements.  Each of the four lessons includes discussion questions and reference materials from the international community regarding specific this specific technical requirement. 

This training document also includes 11 discussion/workshop questions designed to assist readers to better understand this requirement in the standard, and its applicability to users of laboratory data and regulators interpreting results.

"Measurement Uncertainty for Users of Laboratory Data" is applicable to all clients of testing and calibration laboratories and to persons working in regulatory agencies that interpret laboratory results. Topics include:

The training is also available online at http://caeal.dameco.com/Coursesoffered.asp

 
2006 – Version 1.1 – Over 100 pages, loose-leaf bound 
Member Price $50.00 + plus GST/HST
Non-Member Price $75.00 + plus GST/HST

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