AMTEC ISO TEAM VISITS DOST-FPRDI TESTING LABS
by: Lawrence Neil E. Sagarino

As part of the ongoing efforts to prepare its own testing laboratories for ISO 17025 accreditation, the UPLB Agricultural Machinery Testing and Evaluation Center (AMTEC) successfully conducted a benchmarking visit in the testing laboratories of the DOST Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI) last September 4, 2024.
The AMTEC ISO team was composed of technical and administrative staff along with its internal auditors from CEAT’s Industrial Engineering Department. The visit involved comprehensive knowledge-sharing interviews among DOST-FPRDI staff and a brief tour of some of its accredited testing laboratories. The ISO/IEC 17025:2017 outlines the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, which applies to the laboratories of both institutions.
In particular, the team was given an opportunity to visit the Pulp and Paper, Furniture, and Plywood testing laboratories of the institute. Similar to AMTEC on agricultural and fisheries machinery, these laboratories ensure that these types of forest products are of good quality according to national standards before they are made available in the market.

Led by Engr. Cesar O. Austria, Quality Manager, the institute’s personnel generously shared their best practices and ongoing strategies to maintain its exemplary status in managing their testing laboratories. The discussions focused on risk management, impartiality, resource requirements, control of data and information, proficiency testing, and internal audits. Other laboratory heads also engaged in the conversation by providing tips on how to handle AMTEC’s preparation for the particular accreditation more effectively.
Meanwhile, the tour has provided the AMTEC team with a close-up view of how the institute practices its quality management system in the abovementioned testing laboratories. Along with the immersive experience, the team also took the chance to ask relevant questions in relation to the facilities and other features available in the laboratories.

Since the first quarter of 2024, AMTEC has formally commenced its program to gear up its quality management system as it plans to apply for ISO 17025 accreditation. For the past months, it has undergone various training sessions to capacitate its staff to handle crucial processes that would largely constitute the criteria for accreditation.
AMTEC extends its appreciation to DOST-FPRDI under the leadership of Dr. Rico J. Cabangon, OIC Director, and hopes for more future partnerships on ISO and other relevant fields of collaboration. The Center’s internal ISO team is now trying to comply with all other requirements for the said institutional endeavor.