The UI-Chem Laboratory of the Chemistry Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI) is facing a field assessment process to obtain ISO 17025 accreditation certification from the National Accreditation Committee (KAN), on September 15-16, 2022. The core of this activity is to confirm the data and information submitted by FMIPA UI as the basis for assessing the accreditation criteria.
The accreditation application itself was submitted by the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia, in coordination with the Academic Quality Assurance Unit (UPMA). In the application, the Faculty proposed the Center for Medical Physics and Biophysics (CMPB) and the UI-Chem Laboratory for field assessments to obtain ISO 17025 certification. Both are part of the Institute of Applied Sciences (LST) of the Faculty, which is engaged in developing research in the field of Applied Science in an integrated manner with educational, research, and community service activities.
Dede Djuhana, Ph.D., Dean of FMIPA UI and his staff welcomed the presence of the assessor team appointed by KAN, namely Mrs. Susy Lahtiani as the head assessor (Center for Standardization of Environmental Quality Instruments, Ministry of Environment and Forestry), and Mrs. Milla Septiana Wiyantin (National Standardization Agency) on the first day, in Meeting Room A, FMIPA Dean Building, UI Depok Campus.
In his remarks, he stated that, in line with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UI's vision of becoming a leading science faculty capable of playing a global role in advancing science and sustainable development, FMIPA UI remains committed to developing quality research. One of the efforts being undertaken is through laboratory accreditation.
"To improve the quality of service, we are indeed targeted to obtain ISO 17025 certification. We are also grateful because UI also supports the administration side, so I hope this accreditation process runs smoothly so that we can obtain the certification results as expected," said Dede Djuhana, Ph. D.
For two consecutive days, the assessment activities took place at the UI-Chem Chemical Testing Laboratory of the Department of Chemistry. On the first day, it began with a meeting to convey the assessment agenda by the assessors together with the management and laboratory personnel, conveying the determination of the scope of the witness testing that will be carried out as well as conducting introductions and a short visit to the laboratory. After that, the event continued with an initial assessment of the technical field and an assessment of management requirements. The technical requirements assessment closed the assessment on the first day of the UI-Chem Laboratory accreditation at the UI Department of Chemistry. The second day began with a review by the assessors and clarification of the assessment results.
The series of field assessment activities were closed with the reporting of assessment results by the assessor team attended by Dede Djuhana, Ph.D, Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan (Vice Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs), Dr. Asep Saefumillah (Head of the UI Chemistry Department), Muhammad Ridwan, M.Eng., Ph.D (Head of the Undergraduate Study Program of the UI Chemistry Department), Dr. Aminah Umar (Head of the Masters and Doctoral Study Program of the UI Chemistry Department), Hedi Surahman, MSi. (Head of the UI-Chem Laboratory) along with laboratory analysts.
Finally, the two assessors conveyed a number of non-conformities with clauses in ISO 17025: 2017. These non-conformities will be followed up by the laboratory by taking corrective action.
Dr. Asep Saefumillah said "if the corrective action is appropriate and approved by the assessor team, it will be continued with a technical committee meeting and approval at the KAN council. And it is possible that by the end of 2022 or early 2023, the UI-Chem laboratory of the Chemistry Department at FMIPA UI will be worthy of ISO 17025: 2017 Accreditation from KAN, as proof of laboratory competence in testing for Pb, Fe, Cu, pH and Chloride metal parameters included in the scope".
The UI Chem Laboratory, formerly known as the UI Chemistry Affiliate Laboratory, was established as a form of implementation of the third pillar of the Tridharma of Higher Education, namely community service and dedication. This laboratory was first established in 1980 in the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia Salemba. Then in 1987, the Chemistry Affiliate Laboratory transferred its activities to the Chemistry Department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UI Depok, along with the relocation of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UI Salemba, to the UI Depok Campus. Since 2014, its name was changed to Unichem Lab.
Starting from a research laboratory supported by sophisticated equipment technology, UI Chem continues to grow and develop into an institution/agency that provides analysis, consulting and training services.
UI Chem currently has a well-trained analytical team capable of conducting both basic and instrumented chemical analyses. To provide the best service, UI Chem implements quality assurance standards that adhere to ISO 17025. Its work methods adhere to international standards and SNI. UI Chem is also supported by sophisticated instrumentation.
UI Chem also offers a training program for chemical instrumentation. This training will be extremely helpful for company staff responsible for operating analytical instrumentation. The training is designed with competency-based materials.
The UI Chem training method includes providing lecture material containing complete basic theory as well as a large portion of practice, so that after participating in the training, participants can carry out chemical instrumentation analysis work independently and correctly.
