ISO/IEC 17020:2012 Clause 6.3.1 Note 1 says that reasons to subcontract can include the following: an unforeseen or abnormal overload, key inspection staff members being incapacitated, key facilities or items of equipment being temporarily unfit for use, part of the contract from the client involving inspection not covered by the inspection body’s scope or being beyond the capability or resources of the inspection body.
Can an inspection body use the same laboratory as a subcontractor on an ongoing basis for specific tests?
March 2017
It is common practice that inspection bodies make their professional judgement based on the results of tests and the inspection body may subcontract always the same test laboratory. The applicable requirement of the ISO/IEC 17020:2012 is chapter 6.2.11 about selection and approval of suppliers.