Intercomparison Tests Among Laboratories Accredited by ISO 16949

The increasing technology used in automotive components and electrical/electronic parts requires additional and different tests to validate a product design following global specifications. Although the high number of laboratories and automotive industries accredited by ISO 16949, some of the validation tests requires specific devices and can be measured with different equipments and methods resulting in different values. A comparison test among accredited automotive laboratories is presented. At first, the same samples were distributed among the laboratories and some common tests required in all the OEM Specifications were performed including mechanical and electrical tests. The comparison tests were scheduled to be performed with short difference of time between the countries and samples were storage in controlled conditions to avoid samples degradation. This work presents the test results among 4 laboratories located in different countries (Brazil, China, Germany and USA) as well the correspondent accuracy of each one to assure a reliable method in all the laboratories.