ABS QE First to Receive ANAB Accreditation to Certify Organizations to ISO 55001

Asset Management Certification assists clients in maintaining safety, reliability and efficiency across asset-intensive industries.

(Houston) ABS Group, a leading provider of certification and technical services, announces that its operating subsidiary ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) has been awarded official global accreditation status from the ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) to certify organizations to the new Asset Management Standard, ISO 55001:2014.

The new ISO 55001 standard addresses requirements for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continuous improvement of an asset management system. Applying ISO 55001 should enable an organization to gain a comprehensive knowledge of asset-related risks, costs and performance through the full life cycle of an asset. ISO 55001 can be applied to all types of assets and by all types and sizes of organizations. Benefits of effective asset management can include improved financial and operational performance, informed asset investment decisions, managed risk and demonstrated social responsibility and compliance.

"As the first global Certification Body to receive ANAB ISO 55001 accreditation, it signals our commitment to continue to serve industries with a complete portfolio of certification solutions," says Alex Weisselberg, President of ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. "Certification to ISO 55001 places confidence in the highest levels of safety, reliability and efficiency for asset-intensive organizations. The accreditation is a testament to our commitment to helping clients build effective asset management strategies."

The ISO 55000 family of standards aligns and is suitable for integration with other major management systems specifications. These include ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, OHSAS 18000 for occupational health and safety and ISO 31000 for risk management. The ISO 55000 family is one of the initial management system standards to implement the new ISO Annex SL, providing a consistent basis for all management systems and enabling better integration and coordinated monitoring, audit and certification.

"Accreditation provides assurance that the certification body has the required competence and impartiality to do its work, and accredited certification to ISO 55001 offers the means for organizations to demonstrate their conformance with the standard and realize the benefits of aligning their asset management objectives with their organizational objectives," says ANAB President and CEO John Knappenberger.

Complying with an effective asset management policy and strategy will enable asset owners to improve operational decision-making and maximize overall performance objectives.

About ANAB

The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) provides accreditation for ISO/IEC 17021 management systems certification bodies, ISO/IEC 17020 inspection bodies and forensic inspection agencies, ISO/IEC 17025 testing and calibration laboratories and forensic testing agencies, ISO Guide 34 reference material producers, ISO/IEC 17043 proficiency test providers, ISO 15189 medical test laboratories, and industry-specific programs. ANAB is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), and is a signatory of the ILAC and IAF multilateral recognition arrangements. Through these arrangements, ANAB cooperates with other accreditation bodies around the world to provide value to the organizations it has accredited and their clients, ensuring that accredited certificates and test results are recognized nationally and internationally. The global conformity assessment system ensures confidence and reduces risk for customers engaging in trade worldwide. For more information, visit www.anab.org.

About ABS Quality Evaluations

ABS Quality Evaluations, Inc. (ABS QE) is a subsidiary of ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (www.abs-group.com). As a world-leading certification body, ABS QE works with companies to improve the performance of their business, systems, people and supply chains through management systems certification, verification, training and assessments, including supply chain and cybersecurity. ABS QE’s global network of auditors plays a crucial role in helping organizations achieve business excellence and obtain the necessary certifications to get products and services to market.

About ABS Group

ABS Group of Companies, Inc. (ABS Group) and its operating subsidiaries provide risk management solutions and certification services worldwide that help clients address the safety, integrity, quality and environmental efficiency of critical assets and operations. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, ABS Group operates with more than 1200 professionals across the globe, serving the marine and offshore, oil, gas and chemical, government, power and energy and industrial sectors. ABS Group is a subsidiary of ABS (www.eagle.org), a leading marine and offshore classification society.