Is it possible to locate a type C inspection body in an industry company that performs other activities (e.g. design) for similar items of the items inspected and in the same department (same head of department)?
Can impartiality be compromised in that case, as mentioned in the requirements of ISO/IEC 17020:2012, clauses 4.1.2 and 5.2.1?
September 2022
The clause 4.1.6c) from ISO/IEC 17020:2012 standard that is related to Type C inspection bodies says: “An inspection body providing first party inspections, second party inspections or both, which forms an identifiable but not necessarily a separate part of an organization involved in the design, manufacture…”
Then it is possible for a Type C inspection body to be part of an industry company that performs other activities for similar items of the items inspected.
The independence requirements for Type C are stated in Annex A, part A.3: what is necessary to be assured is that the inspection of the same item is not undertaken by the same person that performs the design / manufacture / supply / installation/servicing/maintenance of the item (except if it is allowed by a regulatory requirement). The inspection body shall provide safeguards to assure the segregation of responsibilities and accountabilities between inspection and these other activities.
And also fulfill the requirements of impartiality (4.1.1 to 4.1.5 and other clauses related to impartiality as 5.2.1, 6.1.12).