Can a Type C inspection body have its Technical Manager serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the parent organisation?
STANDARD: ISO/IEC 17020:2012 – TOPIC: Independence
Answer:
| ISO/IEC 17020:2012 does not prohibit a Technical Manager of a Type C inspection body from serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the same organisation. For Type C inspection bodies, the standard permits the inspection body to be part of an organization that performs other activities (such as design, manufacture, supply, installation, use or maintenance of the items it inspects). However, the inspection body must ensure that: – Inspection activities shall be undertaken impartially. – Commercial, financial, or other pressures do not influence inspection decisions. – Risks to impartiality are identified and addressed. – Provide safeguards within the organization to ensure adequate segregation of responsibilities and accountabilities between inspection and other activities. – Inspection activities are structurally separated from other organizational activities. If a Technical Manager also participates at Board level, the inspection body must evaluate whether that role creates risks to impartiality and implements effective control measures where necessary. ILAC P15 Clause 5.2.3 n1 further emphasizes that inspection bodies must clearly document their organizational structure and lines of authority and ILAC P15 Clause 5.2.4 n1 consider the influence of personnel who have roles both within the inspection body and elsewhere in the organization. The effectiveness of safeguards is evaluated based on documented risk analysis, implemented controls, and objective evidence that inspection decisions remain free from undue influence. Each case is assessed based on the specific structure, responsibilities, and demonstrated effectiveness of impartiality controls. Documented safeguards ensuring adequate segregation of responsibilities and accountabilities between inspection and other organizational activities should be established, implemented, and supported by objective evidence demonstrating their effectiveness in maintaining impartiality. The nature of the parent organization’s activities is an important consideration in the impartiality assessment. Where the parent organization’s activities are unrelated to the items, processes, or services inspected by the inspection body, the risk to impartiality may be lower. However, the inspection body should still identify, evaluate, and address any risks arising from governance, ownership, or management relationships. Board membership represents a governance role within the parent organization. As recognized in ISO/IEC 17020 Annex A.3, governance relationships may create risks to impartiality that should be identified, evaluated, and appropriately controlled. Accordingly, the inspection body should assess whether participation on the Board could influence, or be perceived to influence, inspection decisions |
