Commitment to Quality Research Development, UI-Chem Laboratory FMIPA UI Undergoes ISO 17025 Accreditation Process

The UI-Chem Laboratory of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) is facing a field assessment process to obtain ISO 17025 accreditation certification from the National Accreditation Committee (KAN), on September 15-16, 2022. The core of this activity is to confirm the data and information submitted by FMIPA UI as the basis for assessing the accreditation criteria.

The application for accreditation itself has been sent by FMIPA UI since 2021 in coordination with the Academic Quality Assurance Unit (UPMA). In the application, FMIPA UI proposed the Center for Medical Physics and Biophysics (CMPB) and the UI-Chem Laboratory to undergo field assessments in order to obtain ISO 17025 certification. Both are part of the FMIPA UI Institute of Applied Sciences (LST) which is engaged in developing research in the field of Applied Science in an integrated manner with education, research, and community service activities.

Dede Djuhana, Ph.D. Dean of FMIPA UI and staff welcomed the presence of the assessor team appointed by KAN, namely Mrs. Susy Lahtiani as the head assessor (Environmental Quality Instrument Standardization Center, Ministry of Environment and Forestry), and Mrs. Milla Septiana Wiyantin (National Standardization Agency) on the first day, in Meeting Room A, FMIPA Dean Building, UI Depok Campus.

In his speech, he said that in accordance with the vision of FMIPA UI, which is to become a leading science faculty that is able to play a role at the global level to advance science and sustainable development, FMIPA UI continues to be committed to developing quality research. One of the efforts taken is through accreditation in laboratories.

"To improve the quality of service, we are indeed targeted to obtain ISO 17025 certification. We are also grateful because UI also supports the administration side, so I hope this accreditation process runs smoothly so that the certification results can be obtained according to expectations," said Dede Djuhana, Ph. D.

For two consecutive days, the assessment activities took place at the UI-Chem Chemical Testing Laboratory, Department of Chemistry. On the first day, it began with a meeting to convey the assessment agenda by the assessors together with the management and laboratory personnel, conveying the determination of the scope of the testing to be carried out witness while conducting introductions and a short visit to the laboratory. After that, the event continued with an initial assessment of the technical field and an assessment of management requirements. The technical requirements assessment closed the assessment on the first day of the UI-Chem Laboratory accreditation at the UI Chemistry Department. The second day began with a review by the assessors and clarification of the assessment results.

The series of field assessment activities were closed with the reporting of the assessment results by the assessor team attended by Dede Djuhana, Ph.D, Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan (Vice Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs), Dr. Asep Saefumillah (Head of the UI Chemistry Department), Muhammad Ridwan, M.Eng., Ph.D (Head of the Undergraduate Study Program, UI Chemistry Department), Dr. Aminah Umar (Head of the Masters and Doctoral Study Program, UI Chemistry Department), Hedi Surahman, MSi. (Head of the UI-Chem Laboratory) along with laboratory analysts.

Finally, both assessors conveyed a number of non-conformities with clauses in ISO 17025:2017. These non-conformities will be followed up by the laboratory by taking corrective actions.

Dr. Asep Saefumillah said "if the corrective action is appropriate and approved by the assessor team, it will be continued with a technical committee meeting and approval at the KAN council. And it is possible that by the end of 2022 or early 2023, the UI-Chem laboratory of the Chemistry Department at FMIPA UI will be eligible for ISO 17025: 2017 Accreditation from KAN, as proof of the laboratory's competence in testing for the metal parameters Pb, Fe, Cu, pH and Chloride which are included in the scope".

The UI Chem Laboratory, previously known as the UI Chemistry Affiliate Laboratory, was established as a form of implementing the third pillar of the Tridharma of Higher Education, namely community service and devotion. This laboratory was first established in 1980 at the Chemistry Department, FMIPA, University of Indonesia Salemba. Then in 1987, the Chemistry Affiliate Laboratory transferred its activities to the Chemistry Department, FMIPA UI Depok along with the relocation of FMIPA UI Salemba to the UI Depok Campus, and since 2014 its name has been changed to Unichem Lab.

Starting from a research laboratory supported by sophisticated equipment technology, UI Chem continues to grow and develop into an institution/agency that provides Analysis, Consultation and Training Services.

Currently, UI Chem has a well-trained analysis team to perform basic analysis and chemical instrumentation. To provide the best service, UI Chem applies quality assurance standards that refer to ISO 17025. For work methods, UI Chem refers to International Standards and SNI. UI Chem is also supported by sophisticated instrumentation.

UI Chem also has a training program for chemical instrumentation, this training will greatly assist the company's staff who are tasked with operating instrumentation analysis. The training is designed with competency-based materials.

The UI Chem training method includes providing lecture materials containing complete basic theory and a fairly large portion of practice, so that after participating in the training, participants can carry out chemical instrumentation analysis work independently and correctly.

News source : https://sci.ui.ac.id/