NPL is committed to providing a quality service to all our customers taking due regard of environmental issues and a safe and healthy working environment. Extracts from NPL's Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety documentation demonstrate this commitment.
ISO 9001
NPL's quality management system has been registered for scientific R&D and the provision of internal services by LRQA to ISO 9001:2015 and software quality certification TickITplus. Paper masters of the certificates of approval and the certificate schedules are held by the NPL Quality Assurance team. LRQA certificates of approval:
ISO 9001:2015 Certificate of Approval and Schedule
Cert-TickITplus
UKAS Accreditation
NPL's standard calibration, measurement and testing services have been accredited by UKAS. The accredited capability of those services may be found in the calibration and testing schedules issued by UKAS:
Calibration – UKAS reference number 0478: Certificate | Laboratory scope
Testing – UKAS reference number 0002: Certificate | Laboratory scope
Reference Materials – UKAS reference number 4002: Certificate | Laboratory scope
Proficiency Testing – UKAS reference number 0016: Certificate | Laboratory scope
Cyber Essentials PLUS
NPL has achieved certification to the UK Government Cyber Essentials PLUS scheme, providing an assurance framework of fundamental technical security controls, including: Boundary Firewalls and Internet Gateways; Secure Configuration; Access Control; Malware Protection; and Patch Management.
Quality Policy
1. Purpose
As the UK's National Measurement Institute (NMI), we are charged with developing and disseminating the UK's measurement standards – ensuring that they are internationally accepted; conducting multidisciplinary R&D; delivering impact through technical services for the public and private sectors; and providing knowledge transfer and advice between Industry, Government and Academia.
The purpose of the Quality Policy and the Quality Management System is to ensure that the best possible products and services are supplied to our customers, and that we are able to meet their needs and requirements as effectively and efficiently as possible.
2. Our Mission, Vision, Values and Approach
Our Mission
To provide the measurement capability that underpins the UK's prosperity and quality of life.
Our Vision
To be an exemplary National Laboratory that undertakes excellent science and engineering and uses this to deliver extraordinary impact for the UK.
Our Values
We remain committed to our values which are aligned with the public mission of NPL; the need to develop creative and committed staff, who feel empowered to deliver the best science and service to stakeholders; and the creation of a work environment that people enjoy and in which they feel valued.
Our Approach
3. Responsibilities
We shall pursue our Mission, Vision, Values and Approach through the implementation of a Quality Management System, involving all staff members, which will require us to:
- Be aware of the role and objectives of the Laboratory and how our functions contribute to them
- Recognise that our work is undertaken for customers, internal and external, whose needs we should understand and meet
- Work to the highest professional standards supported by written procedures and monitored against explicit criteria of quality
- Seek and receive the necessary training to fit us for our work
We shall provide our customers with products and services which meets the requirements of ISO 17025 (calibration and testing), ISO 17034:2016 or ISO 17043:2010 where accredited, and/or ISO 9001 and TickITplus, as appropriate.
We shall promote a collective commitment to good professional practice and continual improvement in the quality of our services. The actions necessary for improvement shall be implemented and their effectiveness shall be monitored.
We shall be aware that responsibility for awareness of and compliance with the quality system rests in the first place with everyone. We shall familiarise ourselves with the documentation and implement the policies and procedures in our work.
Senior management shall ensure that customer needs and expectations are determined, converted into requirements and fulfilled with the aim of achieving customer satisfaction within the bounds of statutory and legal requirements.
Each member of staff is responsible for the quality of their work and for satisfying their customers' requirements, stated and implied.
Regardless of our type of work, we shall comply with the policies set out in the NPL Quality Manual except under clearly defined conditions. These conditions shall be recorded and authorised.
4. Authorisation
This policy is authorised by Dr Peter Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, NPL Management Limited on 11 May 2018 and is in force from this date.