The Quality system at INRiM: a Research and National Metrology Institute

The Quality Management System (QMS) of the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), Italy, deals with calibration and measurement activities in accordance with the Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA), established to ensure the mutual acceptance of national standards and calibration certificates among signatory countries. The INRiM system also covers other scopes such as testing for the Association for the Certification of Electrical Equipment (ACAE) and the Low Voltage Agreement Group (LOVAG), production of certified reference materials, interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs), and provision of technical documentation and contract-based services using. The QMS complies with ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Option A, for calibration and testing, with ISO 17034:2016 for production of certified reference material and with ISO/IEC 17043:2023 for interlaboratory comparison provider. The INRiM QMS does not cover research activities. In 2024, INRiM maintained 448 Calibration and Measurement Capabilities (CMCs) and, between 2022 and 2024, issued 5336 certificates, 173 test reports, and 337 ILC reports. The INRiM organization, where a QMS coexists within a research environment and where scientific and technical personnel are involved in the three INRiM tasks, has a positive impact on all INRiM activities.