SDCE’s Proficiency Testing Programme has been officially launched following its successful pilot rounds. The programme was created as an independent benchmarking scheme which allows textile testing professionals to assess their performance in a global context. Four preliminary rounds saw laboratories all over the world carry out identical test procedures in line with international ISO test standards, with results tables indicating the accuracy and precision of the technician, equipment and overall operation.
The initial rounds of the scheme represented an extensive global cross-section, with participation from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turkey, the UK, the USA and Vietnam. Completely anonymous, the scheme allowed each participant to view their own performance in a global context, potentially identifying areas for improvement within the test procedures.
“Industry reaction to the Proficiency Testing Programme indicated that there is a very real need for a globally-recognised independent benchmarking scheme,” says SDCE’s technical manager Jonathan Foister. “Many laboratories are already accredited by ISO 17025; the main ISO Standard used by testing and calibration laboratories, but regular participation in a PTP scheme demonstrates an ongoing commitment to quality control and technical competence. The initial response was very good, and we are now in a position to further develop the scheme in a more formal capacity.”
Feedback gathered from the participants themselves indicated that the scheme had been beneficial. The pilot rounds gained an overall approval rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars, with 73 per cent of respondents describing the exercise as having been “extremely useful”, while the remaining 27 per cent said that the exercise had highlighted some interesting points.
The vast majority of participants – 93 per cent – said that they felt confident or very confident in carrying out the tests as instructed, while the subsequent report was rated 4.9 out of 5 with regards to the ease of interpretating individual results.
The official Proficiency Testing Scheme will launch with one round this autumn, followed by a further four rounds of testing throughout 2023. Tests will cover the cross-section of textile testing sectors, including colour fastness, washing, pilling and physical testing. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate and a high-resolution logo which can be used across their marketing material as an independent hallmark of quality.
The opportunity to gain an advantage over competitors has been praised by textile professionals, particularly in light of the current challenging climate.
“Lately, we have been made aware of several laboratories gaining ISO 17025 accreditation in the textile sector,” admits Mehdi Zaatir, technical manager at Total Testing Service in Monastir, Tunisia. “As an ISO 17025-accredited laboratory ourselves, we participate in PTP schemes to empower our technical staff and to maintain our high levels of quality assurance. Do we want to know how our performance compares with that of our competitors? Of course we do; we want to deliver our results with as few uncertainties as possible.”
Participants lauded the scheme as being invaluable in identifying any areas requiring improvement before reaching the potentially-damaging stage of customer complaint.
“Being made aware of any weakness in any section of our performance means that we can take serious action, and ultimately become stronger,” says M.Nik Panjeh, managing director at Niktex Consultancy in Iran. “We were the first ISO 17025-accredited laboratory in Iran and we carry out our own internal testing, but we want to go above and beyond that. We have not previously participated in a PTP scheme, but we believe that it would give us assurance and even more confidence in our testing results.”
Many respondents also praised the anonymity of the benchmarking scheme, maintaining that results should be informative and confidential, without any potential compromise to the reputation of a facility.
“The ability to identify faults or deviations is of course useful,” reported one UK-based textile testing facility. “However, having information shared with other laboratories giving an insight into faults with certain tests could harm a laboratory’s reputation, which is why most PTP participants prefer to remain anonymous.
Pricing for PTP comprises a £200 registration fee, followed by a fee of £50 per test. Each round comprises five tests, and there will be four rounds in total. Get in touch here to find out more.
