President : Datuk Dr Soon Ting Kueh

20 June 2008

Circular No : 2/2008

Dear members,

RE : 2008 IKM LABORATORY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Applications are now invited from chemical laboratories which have registered chemists to apply for the 2008 IKM Laboratory Excellence Award (formally known as the IKM Quality Award for Chemical Laboratories).

This Award was designed to ensure the laboratory’s commitment to achieve quality goals as stipulated in the then SAMM ISO G25 which has since migrated to the new standards, ISO 17025, in 1999. In addition to the needs of analytical laboratories to operate a quality system, be technically competent, and generate accurate results, the Award also requires laboratories to operate with safety and health features in the workplace.

A plaque will be awarded to laboratories which have in the past been continuously awarded the IKM Quality Award for Chemical Laboratories or IKM Accreditation Award for a certain number of years.

The plaque will be awarded for the following 3 categories :

• IKM Laboratory Excellence Silver Award - 10 years
• IKM Laboratory Excellence Gold Award - 15 years
• IKM Laboratory Excellence Platinum Award - 20 years

Other features of the Award are as follows :-

1. Applications for the Award will be on a voluntary basis.

2. The application fee for the IKM Laboratory Excellence Award shall be RM750 which is not refundable. The laboratory must participate in at least one existing proficiency testing.

3. The Award exercise shall be carried out annually.

4. The Award shall be on a calendar year basis.

5. The following information shall be provided in the application:

   1. Qualifications of Chemist(s).

   2. Areas of Testing for which assessment for the Award is sought.

   3. Testing facilities including age of instruments, etc.

   4. Quality Assurance procedures being carried out.

   5. Qualifications of supporting staff.

   6. Documented test procedure and validation of tests carried out.

   7. Handling of samples, test data and reports.

   8. Participation in proficiency testing.

In addition to the above, emphasis is placed on the safety and health features in the workplace.

The closing date for applications is 31 July 2008. Assessment is expected to be carried out in August – September 2008.Application, Self Declaration & Verification Forms can be obtained from the IKM Secretariat upon request by phone (03-7728 3272) or fax (03-7728 9909) or email to ikmmy@pc.jaring.my

The application, self declaration & verification form can also be downloaded from the IKM website at www.ikm.org.my.

When submitting the application, self declaration & verification form, please include steps taken to address comments by assessors during the 2007 assessment of your laboratory.

Dato' Chang Eng Thuan
Chairperson
IKM Laboratory Excellence Award Committee

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