Last Updated on September 25, 2025 by Melissa Lazaro

Maintaining ISO/IEC 17043 Accreditation: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Getting accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2023 is an achievement. But maintaining that accreditation over the long term? That’s where real operational discipline kicks in.

Many PT providers breathe a sigh of relief after the initial audit, only to realize that surveillance visits, reassessments, and ongoing compliance requirements demand consistent, measurable performance.

Here’s the truth: maintaining your accreditation is not just about staying compliant—it’s about demonstrating improvement, transparency, and control. And the best way to do that is through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align directly with the ISO/IEC 17043 framework.

I’ve worked with labs that thrive post-accreditation and others that struggle during surveillance. The difference? The successful ones track the right KPIs and use them not just to prepare for audits—but to improve their operations.

Let’s walk through the essentials.

Why KPIs Are Critical for ISO/IEC 17043 Compliance

KPIs are not just management buzzwords. In the ISO/IEC 17043 context, they serve a very practical purpose:

• They give you evidence of how well you’re meeting requirements.
• They provide an early warning when something’s slipping.
• They show assessors that you have control over your processes.
• And most importantly—they support continual improvement, which is a core ISO principle.

Think of KPIs as your dashboard: Are PT schemes being delivered on time? Are your participants satisfied? Are internal audits being completed and acted upon?

If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing. And ISO/IEC 17043 doesn’t accept guesses.

KPI Categories Every PT Provider Should Track

Over the years, I’ve helped PT providers develop performance dashboards that are both ISO-compliant and genuinely useful. Below are six essential KPI areas I recommend for maintaining accreditation:

PT Scheme Delivery and Timeliness

• KPI: Percentage of PT rounds completed and reported on schedule
• KPI: Average turnaround time for issuing evaluation reports

If your PT scheme delivery is inconsistent, it impacts participant trust and could raise flags during audits.

Example: One provider I supported set a target of 95% on-time PT delivery. Within a year, they identified and eliminated delays related to supplier issues, simply because they had the data.

Participant Engagement and Satisfaction

• KPI: Response rate to feedback surveys
• KPI: Average satisfaction score per scheme or cycle

ISO/IEC 17043 requires consideration of participant feedback. Having metrics around satisfaction shows you’re not just collecting input—you’re acting on it.

Nonconformities and Corrective Actions

• KPI: Number of internal and external nonconformities per quarter
• KPI: Average time taken to implement corrective actions

These KPIs help you demonstrate clause 8.6 (Improvement) and clause 8.7 (Corrective Actions) in action.

Example: After setting a KPI to resolve all nonconformities within 30 days, one PT provider reduced their audit findings by 40% over two years.

Statistical Evaluation and Technical Validity

• KPI: Number of evaluation reports flagged for review or error
• KPI: Percentage of PT results evaluated without rework

Since PT schemes rely heavily on statistical validity, these KPIs reinforce your technical competence and internal verification processes.

Impartiality and Conflict of Interest Monitoring

• KPI: Number of impartiality risk assessments completed
• KPI: Actions taken to mitigate any identified risks

Clause 4.3 requires ongoing review of impartiality risks. These indicators show assessors you’ve moved beyond paperwork into a risk-aware culture.

Internal Audits and Management Review Outcomes

• KPI: Completion rate of scheduled internal audits
• KPI: Number of findings addressed before management review

These KPIs offer assessors a snapshot of how active and responsive your internal QMS processes really are.

Using KPIs in Surveillance and Reassessment Audits

When it comes time for your surveillance visit, showing performance trends over time makes a strong impression.

Instead of saying, “We’ve improved our turnaround,” show:

• Monthly data for the past 12 months
• Actions taken when you missed targets
• Root causes identified and corrected

That’s the kind of transparency ISO/IEC 17043 values. When your KPIs are mapped directly to the clauses of the standard, it also makes document review smoother and quicker.

Proving you’re not just compliant—but improving—is what helps you maintain accreditation with confidence.

How to Set Targets and Track Trends

You don’t need complex software to track KPIs—but you do need consistency.

Here’s a simple approach:

1. Set a baseline. Use historical data from the last 6–12 months.
2. Set SMART targets. Make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
3. Review regularly. At least quarterly, with a formal review during each management review cycle.
4. Visualize trends. Use bar charts, line graphs, or traffic light indicators to make patterns visible at a glance.
5. Act on dips. If a KPI drops below target, trigger a root cause analysis or improvement activity.

This approach turns KPIs into tools—not just checkboxes.

Pro Tips

• Pro Tip: Don’t overwhelm your team with 20 metrics. Start with 5 to 7 KPIs that directly support accreditation clauses, and grow from there.
• Pro Tip: Assign KPI ownership. Each metric should have a clear process owner who reviews and updates it.
• Pro Tip: Use the same KPI data in internal audits, management reviews, and your improvement log—it reinforces integration.
• Pro Tip: Keep a “KPI narrative” document that explains your targets, data sources, and how each metric ties to ISO/IEC 17043 clauses. It’s invaluable during audits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Tracking Too Many or Irrelevant Metrics

It’s tempting to measure everything—but if a KPI doesn’t support a clause or add value, it’s just noise.

Waiting Until Audit Time

KPI tracking is not an audit-prep activity—it’s a monthly or quarterly discipline. Don’t scramble to produce a chart the week before your assessor arrives.

Ignoring Trends

If a KPI drops, assess it. If it stays below target for two quarters, escalate it. Ignoring trends leads to findings.

FAQs

Q: Are KPIs required by name in ISO/IEC 17043?
No—but the standard requires ongoing performance evaluation, internal auditing, management review, and improvement. KPIs are the most practical way to meet and prove compliance in these areas.

Q: Can I use spreadsheets instead of software?
Absolutely. What matters is consistency, not complexity. Many PT providers use spreadsheets effectively.

Q: How many KPIs do we need to show auditors?
Enough to demonstrate coverage of key requirements—usually 5 to 10 well-tracked indicators are sufficient. Focus on quality, not quantity.

KPIs Keep You Audit-Ready and Performance-Focused

Maintaining ISO/IEC 17043:2023 accreditation takes more than keeping documents tidy. It requires operational discipline, visibility into what’s working—and what’s not—and a commitment to improvement.

KPIs give you that visibility.

PT providers who use KPIs as part of their management system don’t just survive surveillance audits—they improve participant trust, deliver higher-quality PT schemes, and operate more efficiently overall.

Need help building a KPI tracking system or selecting the right indicators for your PT schemes? I’ve created a ready-to-use KPI template mapped directly to ISO/IEC 17043 clauses. Let me know, and I’ll send it your way.