Draft Survey Questionnaire

Future IAF-ILAC Meetings Questionnaire - Request for Views from IAF and ILAC Accreditation Body Members

Dear IAF and ILAC Members:

Over the last 3 years IAF and ILAC have been co-operating to achieve improved alignment of their work programmes where this has potential to contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of both organisations and delivery of added value to their stakeholders. To ensure uniform understanding of the aims and scope of the co-operative work programme the Joint Committee for Closer Co-operation between IAF and ILAC (JCCC) recommended at their last meeting production of an overview document “MoU” restating the agreed basis for those joint activities and to confirm their continuing commitment to work together.

It was also decided at this meeting that sufficient experience had been gained of joint activities and that it was now appropriate to establish member views on the progress to date. A questionnaire was developed for this purpose by a Task Force of Accreditation Body and Stakeholder members (D. Pierre, E. Nilsen, S. Sutherland, D. Misczynski, and T. Anderson).

The objective of the consultation is to measure the membership perception of the extent to which each joint activity is contributing to the effectiveness and efficiency of IAF and/or ILAC respectively.

The output of this questionnaire will be used as an input to future decisions on joint co-operation particularly with respect to the arrangements and logistics for annual general meetings. To further facilitate this process the questionnaire includes some additional questions concerning options for general meetings beyond 2005 and a brief list of some of the potential advantages and disadvantages of joint meetings (members may have others they wish to add to this list.).

Please complete the questionnaire and return it to the Secretaries of IAF and ILAC no later than 31 October 2004. Results of the survey will be communicated to members when available along with any recommended actions.

Thank you for your cooperation,

John Owen and Alan Squirrell IAF Secretary ILAC Secretary [email protected] [email protected]

1 Future IAF-ILAC Meetings Questionnaire

Note: “Terminology” is as per the Cape Town, South Africa IAF and ILAC Meeting Programs (copy attached).

1. Indicate on a scale of 1( totally dissatisfied) to 5 ( absolutely delighted) your satisfaction with each of the joint working arrangements in which you are involved.

The examples given below may be used as benchmarks to assist in this process.

1 Extent of additional inconvenience or delays caused by joint working was such that it was totally unacceptable irrespective of any actual or potential advantages gained by the joint working. 2 Additional inconvenience or delays caused by joint working were significant and were only offset to a limited extent by the benefits gained from the joint working. 3 Any additional inconvenience or delays (significant or otherwise) were balanced by the advantages of the joint working. 4 There were no significant delays or inconvenience caused by the joint working and the performance of the activity on a joint basis delivered significant benefits. 5 The progress made was not only significant it would have been impossible to achieve any kind of equivalent output without the joint co-operation.

Joint Activity 1 2 3 4 5 Not Comments involved Joint Annual Meetings (whole event)

Organisation of Joint Annual Meetings Content of Joint Annual Meetings Joint General Assembly (GA) Organisation of Joint GA Content of Joint GA Joint Committee For Closer Co-operation (JCCC) Organisation of JCCC Content of JCCC Joint Working Group (JWG) on Inspection

Organisation of JWG on Inspection

2 Content of JWG on Inspection

JWG on Harmonisation of Peer Evaluation Processes

Organisation of JWG on Harmonisation Content of JWG on Harmonisation Joint Development Support Committee (JDSC)

Organisation of JDSC

Content of JDSC

2. How satisfied are you with the current length (8/9 days) of the ILAC/IAF Conference Meeting Schedule (including the associated meetings). Is it:

Acceptable / too long / too short (circle as appropriate)

3. The above questions refer to your experience to date. Should you wish to comment further on your preferences for the future, e.g. the best way forward, please do so below.

Joint Activity Comments Joint Annual Meetings (whole event)

Joint General Assembly (GA)

Joint Committee For Closer Co-operation (JCCC)

Joint Working Group (JWG) on Inspection

JWG on Harmonisation of Peer Evaluation Processes

Joint Development Support Committee (JDSC)

Joint Cooperation with ISO

3 4. Which if any of the following options would you support as a way of making the overall length, content and conduct of the meetings acceptable to you.

Possible Option Strongly Worth Do not Support considering Support Removal of the ILAC – IAF Joint GA.

Modification of the content and conduct of the current ILAC – IAF Joint GA to make it more meaningful by focusing on discussion of common issues and problems rather than on receiving common reports.

Continuation of the ILAC – IAF GA’s meeting at the same time, including a Joint GA, but separate these from all associated meetings.

Retention by ILAC and IAF of their own GA’s and associated meetings 6 months apart or as they see fit, but including provision for convening joint WG’s during these meeting times.

Continuation of the type of programme used at Bratislava and proposed for Cape Town.

4 Some Potential Advantages And Disadvantages of Joint ILAC/IAF Meetings

Potential Advantages of having Joint ILAC/IAF Meetings

- opportunity to discuss common issues (e.g. MLA/MRA, ISO 17011) - ability to follow-up common activities (e.g. inspection, training, developing countries) - opportunity to avoid redundant presentations (e.g. ISO, UNIDO) - ability to work together to resolve common problems (e.g. accreditation versus certification of laboratories) - opportunity to cooperate to strengthen the image of the accreditation community - focal point for other activities such as regional meetings or meetings of liaison groups

Other:

Potential Disadvantages of having Joint ILAC/IAF Meetings

- a part of the whole event does not interest directly some attendees - loss of identity for each organisation - pricing schedule (for participants and host countries) - heavy burden on / fatigue of Secretaries, Committee Chairs, and others who are heavily involved in meetings - perceived differences in working practices/styles

Other: