• Efficiency of laboratories in Abu Dhabi improves significantly from 57% in 2014 to 97% in 2017
• Fluctuation in laboratory efficiency decreases from 66% in 2014 to 32% in 2017 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 17 April 2017 – The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), the entity responsible for developing quality infrastructure and raising awareness on quality standards in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, hosted a workshop for soil and construction material testing laboratories as part of the Proficiency Testing Programme aimed at improving the efficiency of dedicated laboratories across Abu Dhabi.

The workshop highlighted the results of the Proficiency Testing Programme that achieved a 40% increase in the technical competency of the soil and construction material laboratories, increasing from 57% in 2014 to 97% in 2017. This improvement was achieved thanks to the capacity development and training programmes offered by QCC over the past years to help the dedicated laboratories ensure compliance with best international standards.

The Proficiency Testing Programme developed by QCC includes the requirements and specifications outlined by Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport and the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City for all relevant laboratories. It also mandates compliance with Abu Dhabi-specific quality and conformity requirements for all testing and calibration laboratories which were approved by QCC in 2014. The programme comprises a total of 90 different tests conducted as per local and international specifications covering a variety of materials including sand, gravel, concrete, brick, interlocking and reinforcement iron. 

The workshop was attended by quality engineers, laboratory technicians, quality laboratory managers, representatives of accreditation bodies, regulators and legislators and quality consultants. The day-long session also reviewed the results of the 2017 Proficiency Testing Programme conducted by QCC for 37 national laboratories dedicated for soil and construction material testing in Abu Dhabi.

Abdulla Hassan Al Muaini, Executive Director of Conformity Schemes Services at Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), said: 'This Proficiency Testing Programme workshop is aligned with QCC’s broader strategic objectives of enhancing the quality infrastructure in the emirate of Abu Dhabi through the continuous development of our technical capabilities to meet the standardisation requirements specified by Abu Dhabi. The workshop demonstrated our proactive approach to keeping pace with the testing and calibration requirements of our vital industry sectors, as well as enabling our laboratories to ensure the provision of accurate services in this important domain.'

Al Muaini added: “Through launching the Proficiency Testing Programme for soil and construction material testing laboratories in 2014, QCC aimed to identify the testing and calibration requirements of our laboratories and enable them to improve their efficiency to meet the requirements of regulatory authorities and the society at large. The workshop also benefitted from previous tests to help our laboratories make necessary improvements in line with the latest developments in testing systems and enable them to comply with the technical specifications and requirements set by QCC. Measuring up to international standards of excellence will trigger an overall improvement in the quality of products and services offered in Abu Dhabi as well as enhance the competitiveness of our economy.'

The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council was established in 2009 to raise the quality of the emirate’s exports and locally traded products while protecting the interests of consumers and supporting the UAE’s competitive economy. QCC empowers regulators to establish and implement product safety, legal metrology and conformity schemes. The Council also sets guidelines and benchmarks to verify that the products manufactured and traded in Abu Dhabi conform to the highest quality standards.