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Flour millers operate to the highest standards. Accuracy and consistency
of quality testing is crucial to their business. The industry’s
intake proficiency and accreditation scheme is now available to
all. For an annual fee your laboratory can be measured against
the same standards as flour millers. So sign up if accuracy of
testing is as important to your business.
TESTING
Testing is vital to the control of flour mills and other grain-based
operations that rely on the quality and suitability of raw materials.
Therefore the accuracy and consistency of grain testing results
is very important. Consequently, nabim and all
its members take testing very seriously and have invested heavily
in both equipment and training to ensure correct standards of
analysis and the highest level of proficiency.
nabim
INTAKE SCHEME
The nabim intake scheme, which helps to establish
and maintain common standards of wheat testing at flour mills,
requires participants to follow established procedures in their
laboratories, with methods of analysis traceable to reference
methods where appropriate. It also requires participants to reach
a standard of proficiency, independently assessed by the Campden
and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) on the basis
of monthly tests. It is this measure of proficiency that differentiates
the nabim scheme from others. The scheme for
intake proficiency and accreditation, which is widely recognised
as one of the most demanding currently available for grain intake
laboratories, is now open to non-nabim members.
Optionally, participation can be for proficiency testing only.
SCHEME
COVERAGE
The scheme has two elements: proficiency testing and accreditation.
PROFICIENCY
To assess proficiency, participating laboratories analyse one
hard and/or one soft wheat sample (a set) per month, supplied
by CCFRA. Individual results are judged against the reference
values for each sample, with proficiency measured by the ability
to match those reference standards. Testing proficiency is assessed
for all participants in the nabim scheme; currently
it covers protein, moisture and Hagberg falling number.
ACCREDITATION
Laboratories may, if they wish, apply for accreditation. The scope
of intake tests for accreditation exceeds other schemes in operation,
and currently includes: protein; moisture; Hagberg falling number;
screenings; hardness; hectolitre weight; gluten washing; and visual
examination. To achieve accreditation, two criteria need to be
met: (1) laboratories must meet minimum performance standards,
i.e. proficiency testing as above (2) laboratories must demonstrate
by independent verification, via third party audit (such as ISO
or EFSIS), that the processes required under the scheme are observed.
Laboratories that consistently fail to meet minimum performance
criteria will lose their accreditation to the scheme. Performance
and accreditation status are reviewed on a six-monthly basis.
COST
Annual costs of participation in the scheme for 2004 are set at
£900 per site. This does not include the cost of third party
audits, which are arranged and paid for by individual members.
BENEFITS
- Performance
assessment on a monthly basis.
- Provision
of monthly updated control charts that show variation of results
from the established value. This enables anomalous performance
to be investigated thereby limiting prolonged deviation.
- Key guidance
on factors that can influence test performance is available
for scheme members.
- Recognised
accreditation if applied for and achieved. The nabim
scheme is currently the only scheme that requires both good
laboratory standards and proof of good performance.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
For more information please complete the feedback form below or
for a copy of the scheme protocol please click
here
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