English AB Dynamics has recently achieved ISO 17025 accreditation for its driving robot calibration services, further improving the accuracy and traceability of our products. To discuss what this means, how we got here and why it matters to our customers, we spoke to Stuart Barnard, Head of Quality Improvement at AB Dynamics, to find out more.
Why was achieving ISO 17025 accreditation important for AB Dynamics?
SB: ISO 17025 is the internationally recognised quality standard for calibration and testing. For us, achieving accreditation, granted by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), was about demonstrating the highest level of quality and competence in how we calibrate our driving robots. These systems are used all over the world in safety-critical testing, so accuracy and repeatability are fundamental.
By calibrating in accordance with ISO 17025, we’re giving customers complete confidence that their data is accurate, traceable and consistent, regardless of where in the world they’re operating their robots. We’re the only driving robot manufacturer performing calibrations to this standard.
What does ISO 17025 cover, and how does it apply to driving robots?
SB: ISO 17025 sets out the general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories. Accreditation means we’ve proven that the way we measure and validate the performance of our driving robots meets the highest standard possible.
In practice, the accreditation covers the critical parameters that affect robot performance, such as the force output of our pedal robots, the torque generated by our steering robots and the voltage control within our robot controllers.
We’ve always delivered high-quality calibrations, but ISO 17025 elevates that to a new level. Customers now get full metrological traceability, which means the results are related to a documented chain of calibration steps that link it to a recognised and trusted reference measurement.
What benefits does ISO 17025 and that traceability bring to customers?
SB: The real value of ISO 17025, and the traceability it requires, is the confidence it gives customers. When a driving robot is delivered or a system comes back from service, the customer knows it has been calibrated against an accredited, internationally recognised standard. That assurance means the robot will behave exactly as intended, and the data it produces will be consistent, reliable, and repeatable.
By choosing ISO 17025 calibration, customers gain the assurance that every result is traceable all the way back to SI units. This traceability provides a clear, documented link to internationally accepted measurement references, giving customers confidence that the measurements they rely on are accurate, defensible, and aligned with global best practice.
What changes did AB Dynamics make to become ISO 17025 accredited?
SB: It’s been a 12-month process and a significant investment. We strengthened our existing quality management system, enhanced our validation methods and acquired new, high-precision calibration equipment. We've developed a comprehensive, robust process that enables us to deliver to the quality standard continually and repeatably.
So, what’s next? How will you be continually improving quality going forward?
SB: ReceivingISO 17025 accreditation was a huge milestone, but it isn’t the end point. Currently, our UK headquarters holds the accreditation. We are now working on expanding this to our other facilities worldwide. The aim is to give customers access to ISO 17025-level calibration services locally, reducing turnaround times and ensuring consistent quality, no matter where they are. We are also exploring applying the same process to our ADAS platforms, enabling high levels of calibration throughout our product range.
We have also launched a Quality Task Force inside the business. It’s a cross-functional team dedicated to continuous improvement in quality, not just in calibration, but in every part of the AB Dynamics business. The task force will review processes and identify opportunities for improvement across the company.
For more information on AB Dynamics driving robots and our calibration services, visit: https://www.abdynamics.com/track-testing/driving-robots/
