NABL 213

National Accreditation Board for Testing

and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)

Operational Manual for Online Assessment

(For Assessors)

Issue Date: 23-Apr-2019

 Contents

SI. Contents Pages

1. Assessment Process 2

2. NC Closure Process 21

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1. Assessment Process

Assessor shall ensure that he/she has downloaded the latest NABL Assessment App from Play
Store in their Android phone/ Tablet which is having android version above 5.0.

Note 1: Lead Assessor shall upload the NAF 1 in pdf format in consultation with the assessment
team from NABL Web Portal for the respective CAB’s Application from his/ her login. (It is
mandatory to upload NAF 1 through web portal before starting the assessment on App).
Note 2: Assessor make sure that the device which is used to conduct the assessment is
connected to internet to start the assessment.
Note 3: Assessor makes sure that the location settings are active on the device.
Note 4: Assessor is required to use same device throughout the assessment process.

 Assessor(s) to login via mobile App with their login credentials. (The App will be active
only on the day(s) of assessment i.e. 0000 hrs to 2359 hrs)

 After login on the screen Assessor will able to see the assigned Application for that
particular date (s).

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 Assessor will be able to see CAB name, Assessment Date, Address, User role and
Application Preview File

 To start the assessment Click on “START” button, thereafter declaration page will open.

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  After accepting declaration form, Assessor needs to click a selfie and press OK to
upload the same. After uploading message will be displayed that assessment started
successfully and “START” button will be converted as “COMPLETE” button.

START/COMPLETE - This tab is used to start and complete the assessment process.
Assessment can be completed only after assessing each and every requirement in the
assessment process.
NAF 1A - Attendance sheet for Opening Meeting and Closing Meeting. Lead Assessor to
specify the name of the persons available during the opening and closing meeting separately
including assessment team.

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APPLICATION – Content of Application submitted by the laboratory for assessment

By pressing the “APPLICATION” button, Assessor with following user role, can view relevant
sub sections of application

Sub Sections of Application User Role

Laboratory Details LA, LA & TA
Location Details LA, LA & TA
Scope of Accreditation- Form 72/73 LA & TA, TA, TE, TL
(Recommended Scope of Accreditation) will
be generated from this section
Organization- Form 71 (Recommended LA & TA, TA, TE, TL
Authorized Signatories) will be generated from
this section
Equipment LA & TA, TA, TE, TL
Reference Materials LA & TA, TA, TE, TL
Quality Control Activity LA & TA, TA, TE, TL

LA TA, TE LA+TA, TL

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CHECKLIST- Clauses of the Standard against which the compliance is to be verified. It is
the only source of generating Non-Compliance (s):

NAF 6 - Summary of the Assessment

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View NC Summary: This button can be used to view the NCs raised, before completing the
assessment. Note: NCs can be edited only through checklist; this button is meant to view the
NCs for daily debriefing.

SYNC - This button to be used after completing the assessment to sync the data
from App to web.

Laboratory Details, Location Details, Equipment, Reference Materials, & Quality Control
Activity:

Under the Application, Assessor will get details of Application of the CAB and where he/she
shall validate the information by clicking on the “ADEQUATE” or “INADEQUATE”

a) By marking “ADEQUATE” option, Assessor ensures that the data given in the
Application has been assessed by him/her. Assessor may enter comment in “REMARK”
box.
b) By marking “INADEQUATE” option, Assessor is required to enter the relevant clause no.
(Including sub clause no.) in which non-compliance is to be raised and enter a “NC
statement” which is statement of non-conformity.

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Scope of Accreditation: -

After entering into the Scope of Accreditation button/tab, on the top of the screen there will three
sub section Appearing namely: - “Not Audited”, “Audited” & “Test Witness”:

a) “Not Audited”: - It shows all the parameters which are to be audited/verified by the
Assessor.
b) “Audited”:- All the parameters Appearing under “Not Audited” Section will migrate to
“Audited” Section when the Assessor verifies all the content of that particular test
(Parameters like Test name, Test Method, Range of testing, Measurement of
Uncertainty, Test Performed at) and press the “Adequate” or “Inadequate” icon,
whichever is Applicable.

Note: - Scope of Accreditation visible to the Assessor for which the Assessor is
Appointed by NABL. In case, if more than one Assessor has been Appointed for same
group (in case of Testing/Calibration) or same discipline (in case of Medical) there will be
three options in the scope of accreditation to mark – Adequate, Inadequate and Not
Attempted. “Not Attempted” option is provided to avoid the duplicity of Data. Assessor to
ensure if a test/parameter is marked as “Not Attempted” by one Assessor, then it must
be marked as “Adequate or Inadequate” by the other Assessor to avoid any loss of data.
The Assessors shall mutually decide on who will assess which parameter and
accordingly mark rest of the parameters as Not Attempted. Please note that if both the
Assessors mark a parameter as “Not Attempted” the said parameter will not be visible in
the recommended scope. Assessors to ensure that this activity to be done before start
entering the audit findings to avoid confusion in the last minute of the assessment.

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 c) “Test Witness”: - For selecting the tests for “Test Witness”, Assessor has to click the
check box of “Test Witness” and then that particular test will migrate to “Test
Witness” section. Further Assessor to press “Adequate” or “Inadequate” icon for that
particular test after completing the test witness form under this section.

Once a particular test gets migrate under “Test Witness” section for entering the details of
tests witnessed (like filling NAF 3/3A whichever is relevant), Assessor has to click the “Test
Witness” button and need to enter all the details required. Assessor after filling all the required
details in the test witness form shall save the data by pressing “Save” icon. Assessor has to
comment on the competency of the lab to perform that particular test by pressing the
“Competent” or “Incompetent “button. Assessor may enter comment in “REMARK” box in
case of Competent. If the Assessor marked as Incompetent, then remarks to be entered
mandatorily. Further, the said parameter/test needs to be marked as inadequate and enter the
relevant clause no. (Including sub clause no.) in which non-compliance is to be raised and enter
a “NC statement” which is statement of non-conformity.

Note: Assessor to upload supporting documents (report, raw data etc) by clicking the photo
which can be done by pressing the button “Add Evidence”.

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Organization

Assessor need to verify the staff details filled by the lab:

a) By marking “ADEQUATE” option, Assessor ensures that the data given in the
Application has been assessed by him/her. Assessor may enter comment in “REMARK”
box.
b) By marking “INADEQUATE” option, Assessor is required to enter the relevant clause no.
(Including sub clause no.) in which non-compliance is to be raised and enter a “NC
statement” which is statement of non-conformity.

For recommendation of Authorized Signatories (Form 71)

Assessor need to comment on the competency of the authorised signatory (s) proposed by the
lab by pressing the “Recommended” indicating that the person is recommended as authorized
signatory or “Not recommended” button indicating that the person is not recommended as
authorized signatory. If the Assessor marked as Not recommended, then remarks to be entered
mandatorily. Further, the signatory needs to be marked as inadequate mandatorily and enter the
relevant clause no. (Including sub clause no.) in which non-compliance is to be raised and enter
a “NC statement” which is statement of non-conformity.

Assessor need to verify whether specimen signature is available or not, if not available
Assessor can edit and upload the specimen signature of authorized signatory by clicking a
photo.

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After completing the all the section given in “Application” tab then Assessor needs to start
filling the “Checklist”. “Checklist” button is available at the Home Page of the App. Assessor
shall press the “Checklist “button and view the content of “Checklist” of relevant standard.

“Checklist” will show only those clauses which is to be audited by the Assessor. To the right of
the clause name and small empty check box will be visible to the Assessor. In which a “√” will
appear automatically once all the sub clause of that particular clause has been assessed by the
Assessor.

Note: Please note that if an Assessor has raised Non- Compliance (NC) against a particular
clause while auditing the “Application”, then an option of “Pull NC” will appear in a highlighted
mode of the top-right of the screen for the said clause. Assessor shall press the “Pull NC”
button before start filling the “Checklist” so that all the NCs against a particular clause while
auditing the “Application” shall appear in the “Checklist” as check list is the only source for
generating NCs.

a) By selecting the “COMPLIANCE” option, Assessor ensures that the lab complies to that
clauses. Assessor may enter comment in “REMARK” box.
b) Non- Compliance (NC) can be raised by selecting the “Non-Compliance” option and
select the category of NC (Major/ Minor); thereafter Assessor required to enter/
modify “NC statement” which will be finally reflected as NC in the assessment report.
c) In case a sub-clause is Not Applicable for the laboratory, Assessor need to click on
“NA” option.

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Note 1: Assessor can upload document with reference to that clause by clicking the photo
which can be done by pressing the button “Add Evidence”
Note 2: Lead Assessor is required to mention the summary of internal audit and MRM in the
relevant clauses in the checklist under Remarks.
Note 3: Technical Assessor/ Experts/ Team Leader is required to provide summary of IQC and
PT/ EQAS/ ILC in the relevant clauses in the checklist under Remarks.

After assessing all the sections namely “Application” & “Checklist” the Assessor need to
click “Complete” button, Assessor needs to click a selfie and press OK to upload the same
then message will appear as “ Assessment Completed Successfully”. In case of Lead Assessor
and Team Leader, they need to fill the NAF 6 (Summary of Assessment) and NAF 1A (Closing
Meeting) details before completing the assessment.

Note 1: The Assessor can edit only NAF 6 (Summary of Assessment) through NABL Web
Portal after synchronizing the data from App, if required.

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Note 2: Before completing the assessment Assessor can view the NC summary report by
clicking “View NC Summary” button available on Home page of App; NCs can be edited only
through checklist

Assessor shall press the “Sync ” icon to synchronize the data from App to Web.

Note1: The device which is used by the Assessor to conduct the assessment shall be
connected to internet for synchronizing the data. After clicking on Sync button, Assessor shall
remain on the same page until “Data Sync successfully” message appears to avoid any loss of
data.

Note 2: In case due to any unforeseen circumstances (Internet Connectivity) if the sync stopped
in between or the message (Data Sync successfully) does not appears, please make sure
synchronization done again.

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Sending the Non – Compliance raised to CAB

After Synchronizing the data Assessor will be able to see “View NC report” Click on that tab
“View NC report”. After pressing the “View NC Report” icon, Assessor will be able to see
“Pull NC” option. After pressing the “Pull NC” tab Assessor will get a message that “NCs
Pulled Successfully”. Once clicked on OK, Assessor can view the NCs raised and option to
“Send to CAB” will appear at the bottom of page. By Clicking on this, the NCs will get reflected
on the CAB dashboard to propose the corrective actions.

Now the Assessor need to log out from the Assessment App and login via NABL Web Portal
and “View” the assessment report for further process.

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Assessor need to login from the web portal and click on the “View >> Reports >> Assessment
Details

Edit NAF 6 – Assessor can edit only NAF 6 (Summary of Assessment) through NABL Web
Portal after synchronizing the data from App, if required.

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Fill TA/DA – Assessor need to enter the Bank details and Submit/ Update.

After filling the bank details click on “Click here” to add travel details

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After filling the travel details click on “Submit form” and enter the password to complete the
TA/DA process.

After the CAB proposes the corrective action on the non-compliance (NCs) raised by the
Assessor need to click on the “View >> Reports >> Assessment Details>> NC Process

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Form – 45 (Feedback form) – Wherever Form – 45 option is appearing on the top right corner in
NC Process, Assessor needs to fill the same.

After completing the feedback and TA/DA, Assessor needs to provide comments on the
corrective actions proposed by the laboratory for each NC and Click on Submit button.
Thereafter click on Submit my remarks tab at the bottom of the page.

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No NC observed – In case, No NC raised by the Assessor then Click on View >> Reports >>
Assessment Details>> NC Process>>NC raised>> No NC Observed

Once Lead Assessor receives the report from the Technical Assessor(s), Lead Assessor need
to comment on the NCs of Technical Assessor(s). Thereafter Lead Assessor need to Click on
“Send to Dealing Officer” tab to send the entire assessment report to NABL.

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The assessment process will be treated as completed once the current status on the dashboard
appears as “Assessment Report prepared and submitted by Assessment Team. Awaiting
corrective actions from CAB on Non-Conformities raised, if any”.

Note 1: Before submitting the report to Dealing Officer, please ensure completeness of the
Assessment Report i.e., Recommended Scope of accreditation (Form 72/73), Recommended
authorised signatories (Form 71), Assessment Summary (NAF-6).

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2. NC Closure Process

After verifying the corrective action submitted lab, Assessor has following options:

This tab is to be used to seek further clarifications on the corrective

actions submitted by the Laboratory.
This tab is to be used to Close the NCs when the corrective actions
submitted by the Laboratory found satisfactory.
This tab is to be used when the Assessor is unable to take decision on
closure of NCs based on corrective actions submitted by the Laboratory.

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After submitting the comments on each NC the Assessor need to click on “Submit to
NABL/CAB” for further processing.

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National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)
NABL House
Plot No. 45, Sector 44,
Gurgaon - 122002, Haryana
Tel. no.: 91-124-4679700 (30 lines)
Fax: 91-124-4679799
Website: www.nabl-india.org