Industry Association: National Association of Testing Authorities
Association Profile
NATA is Australia's only nationally and internationally recognised provider of laboratory accreditation. Established more than 50 years ago, NATA is also the world's largest association of accredited laboratories, with more than 2500 accredited members.
NATA has a memorandum of understanding with the Australian government that recognises its national role in Australia's technical infrastructure. NATA is an independent private company, and its operations are monitored and reviewed by its members, industry, government and professional bodies whose representatives make up NATA's Council. NATA uses the services of some 3000 technical experts who volunteer their time to assist on NATA's various technical committees and to evaluate the technical competence of laboratories.
NATA accredits laboratories against criteria based on the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17025 - General requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories. These laboratory-focused criteria include the technical evaluation of laboratories, which is not provided by other procedures such as ISO 9000 certification. Specific technical evaluation, combined with NATA's international recognition by its overseas counterparts, enables laboratories accredited by NATA to be recognised world-wide.
What is Laboratory Accreditation?
Laboratory accreditation provides a means of determining the competence of laboratories to perform specific types of testing, measurement and calibration. It enables people who want a product, material or instrument to be checked or calibrated to find a reliable testing or calibration service able to meet their needs. It also allows a laboratory to determine whether it is performing its work correctly and to appropriate standards.
Manufacturing organisations may also use laboratory accreditation to ensure the testing of their products by their own in-house laboratories is being done correctly. Very importantly, laboratory accreditation provides formal recognition to competent laboratories.
Laboratories undertaking any sort of testing, product or material evaluation, calibration or measurement can apply for accreditation through NATA. Private as well as government laboratories can gain NATA accreditation, and facilities can range in size from one-person operations through to large multi-disciplinary organisations. Remote field operations and temporary laboratories can also be catered for. NATA currently operates laboratory accreditation programs in more than a dozen different fields of testing, and can also tailor its services to meet the needs of particular industries.
Other services
NATA operates proficiency testing programs in a range of testing and calibration areas, and provides a range of training courses in laboratory management, auditing and quality control.
NATA also publishes a range of technical and information documents covering laboratory practice and evaluation. It promotes its members through publication of an annual directory of accredited laboratories and through advertising, conferences and related promotional activities.
