EVARA launches 18-month program to build a unified ISO/IEC 17025 quality system for WEQAA laboratories

EVARA Group has begun a Kingdom-wide program to design and activate a Unified Quality Management System (QMS) for the laboratories of the National Center for Prevention and Control of Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (WEQAA). Running 18 months, the program aligns with ISO/IEC 17025 and supports Vision 2030 goals in public-health resilience, food security, and regulatory excellence.

Program scope (highlights)

·        Quality governance & documentation: unified quality manual, SOPs, forms, and controlled records.

·        Methods & measurement quality: validation/verification, uncertainty budgets, metrological traceability, PT participation.

·        People & competence: role-based training matrices, authorizations, and periodic re-assessment.

·        Assets & sample flow: calibration/maintenance schedules, lifecycle registers, chain-of-custody, storage, and data integrity.

·        Improvement system: CAPA, internal audits, risk/opportunity registers, management review, KPI dashboards.

·        Digital enablement: document control and LIMS integration guidance for traceability and reporting.

Workstreams & timing

1.     Diagnostic & design (M1–3): baseline assessment, gap analysis, unified QMS blueprint.

2.     System build (M2–8): quality documents, method packages, PT plans, uncertainty frameworks, risk registers.

3.     Competency & culture (M3–12): training curricula, coaching, and internal-audit capability.

4.     Pilot activation (M7–14): live trials, LIMS/doc control rollout, reviews, readiness scoring.

5.     Rollout & accreditation prep (M12–18): full implementation, evidence packs, mock assessments, corrective actions.

Success indicators (selected)

·        Methods ready: ≥95% validated/verified with approved uncertainty budgets.

·        Competency coverage: ≥90% staff mapped and authorized.

·        PT outcomes: ≥90% satisfactory with CAPA for outliers.

·        Equipment compliance: ≥98% to calibration/PM schedules.

·        Document control: 100% active procedures under version control.

·        Audit closure: ≥95% findings closed on time.

Why it matters

A unified QMS strengthens veterinary and plant-health surveillance, delivering faster, defensible results that support biosecurity, trade, and emergency response. Network-wide harmonization improves comparability, traceability, and stakeholder confidence.

EVARA’s role

End-to-end delivery—from diagnosis and system design to implementation, coaching, and accreditation readiness—combining global lab-quality expertise with local operations so standards are embedded in daily practice and sustained beyond accreditation.

Immediate next steps

·        Finalize baseline and in-scope method list.

·        Release first wave of controlled procedures.

·        Launch training cohorts and pilot sites.

·        Prepare evidence packs and run mock assessments ahead of formal accreditation.