Title: Bayesian modelling of a quality accreditation network

Authors: Tarek Elsmuai; Chris McCollin

Addresses: School of Science and Technology, Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University, NG11 8NS, UK ' School of Science and Technology, Clifton Campus, Nottingham Trent University, NG11 8NS, UK

Abstract: Accreditation of laboratories has been a subject of considerable interest because product quality guarantee has become one of the prime factors to be considered at this present time of highly competitive industrial activity. Laboratories in the developing countries need to establish a new strategy on accreditation to be able to demonstrate the capability to compete internationally taking account of the difficulties, barriers, confidence and international acceptance. This paper intends to investigate the factors that lead to establishing a sustainable national accreditation body (NAB) and examine employees and management's attitudes and perceptions toward the development of a sustainable NAB in accordance with ISO/IEC 17011. The analysis has led to development of the main important factors that are directly affecting accreditation programmes in the developing countries. The Bayesian analyses have identified the main drivers of an accreditation model. The outcomes of the analyses are satisfactory because they correspond with the results of the theoretical framework.

Keywords: laboratory accreditation; national accreditation body; NAB; Bayesian networks; developing countries; Bayesian modelling; quality accreditation networks; ISO/IEC 17011; conformity assessment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJQET.2014.064385

International Journal of Quality Engineering and Technology, 2014 Vol.4 No.3, pp.181 - 199

Received: 29 Jul 2013
Accepted: 14 Oct 2013
Published online: 13 Sep 2014 *

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