Proficiency Testing for Hardness:
Important Considerations in Selecting
an A2LA-accredited Provider

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  Advantages to using Newage
         as a Proficiency Test Provider

  Are you required to do proficiency testing
         to maintain a hardness test accreditation?

  Scope of Accreditation,
         Newage Testing Instruments, Inc.

DOWNLOADS:

Proficiency Testing application form (.PDF) fill in the form electronically using Acrobat Reader, print it out, and mail or fax it to Newage.

Proficiency Testing information and application form (PDF)

Newage Testing Instruments Proficiency Testing Certification (PDF)

Are you required to do proficiency testing to maintain a hardness test accreditation?

Most laboratories that are accredited to ISO IEC 17025 are required to participate in some form of proficiency testing for each discipline in which they are accredited. If you are an A2LA accredited laboratory, participation is a requirement. The purpose of Proficiency Testing is to ensure that the results you are providing are correct. This applies whether you are a calibration provider or a laboratory services provider.

Who provides A2LA-accredited hardness tester proficiency testing?
Newage Testing Instruments is now accredited by A2LA as a provider of proficiency testing in many hardness scales: Rockwell, Brinell, Micro, Macro Vickers, Durometer, IRHD, and Leeb. In fact, in most of these scales Newage is the first and currently the only company accredited by A2LA.

Who is Newage?
Newage has been manufacturing and distributing hardness testing instruments for over 50 years. Our expertise, specialization, and commitment to hardness testing is unrivaled in the industry. Therefore, we feel our ability to administer proficiency testing for those involved in hardness testing is unmatched as well. Our goal is not only to determine proficiency, but also to help those deemed to be not proficient, to quickly determine possible causes, and to make recommendations for corrections.

What is the Scheme?
Newage will send the participant a test standard of a known value but which is unknown to the participant. This standard will be tested by the participant and returned to Newage along with the test values obtained. Newage will enter these values into a spreadsheet and determine pass/fail proficiency.

Get the Details : Proficiency Testing Information brochure (.PDF)

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Advantages to using Newage
as a Proficiency Test Provider

Advantage 1: Your company can do proficiency testing whenever it suits you.

Most services require the testing be done together with a group of other companies so participants cannot necessarily get the tests when desired or needed. In contrast, Newage sends out serialized blocks that are traceable to NIST or manufactured according to industry standards, participants test the samples as they would other samples and fill out a form with the readings - any time they choose.

Advantage 2: You will receive results within days.

Within three business days after receiving the samples, the test values will be entered into a spreadsheet and the data analyzed in accordance with a formula taken from the ISO standard to determine a pass/fail outcome based on the known mean for the sample. Additionally, the block itself will be examined to verify proper test procedures were followed in making the impressions and irregularities will be noted. Results will be returned within one day of evaluation.

Advantage 3: Your results are compared within an absolute context - not relative.

As a consequence, your company will have a clearer idea of its proficiency. Most providers compare your test values only to the data supplied by others in a round-robin format, which in essence provides only a relative view of your company’s proficiency. Newage compares your data to a single set of master values and to allowable tolerances.

Get the Details : Proficiency Testing Information brochure (.PDF)

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Scope of Accreditation
Newage Testing Instruments, Inc.

Certificate # 1734.02

This Proficiency Testing Provider has been found to meet the requirements of ILAC Guide 13: “Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing Schemes” (based on ISO/IEC Guide 43-1:1997, relevant elements of ISO/IEC 17025:1999, and relevant ISO 9001-1994 requirements). Therefore, in recognition of the successful completion of the A2LA evaluation process, accreditation is granted to this provider to offer the following proficiency testing programs:

I. Rockwell
The Rockwell Hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Rockwell Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Rockwell Tests Blocks with traceability to NIST or to industry standards. The program is offered in the scales listed in ASTM E-18.

II. Brinell
The Brinell Hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Brinell Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Brinell Test Blocks with traceability to NIST or to industry standards. The program is offered in the scales listed in ASTM E-10.

III. Vickers
The Vickers hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Vickers Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Vickers Test Blocks with traceability to NIST or industry standards. The program is offered in the Scales listed in ASTM E-92.

IV. Microindentation Hardness
The Microhardness Hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Microhardness Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Micro Vickers or Knoop Test Blocks with traceability to NIST or to industry standards. The program is offered in the scales listed in the ASTM E-384.

V. Durometer
The Durometer Hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Durometer Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Durometer test blocks with traceability to NIST or to industry standards. The program is offered in the scales listed in ASTM D-1415 and D-2240.

VI. Leeb Hardness
The Leeb Hardness proficiency is intended to evaluate the ability of the laboratory to measure Leeb Hardness within the stated uncertainty. The artifacts are highly consistent Leeb Test Blocks with traceability to NIST or industry standards. The program is offered in the Scales listed in ASTM A-956.

Get the Details : Proficiency Testing Information brochure (.PDF)

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Newage has moved:: 820 Pennsylvania Blvd., Feasterville, PA 19053 U.S.A.
Tel:215-355-6900; Fax:215-354-1803
email: newage.info@ametek.com    

© 2008, Newage Testing Instruments, Inc.