The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) began as a small organization with just three employees who were on a mission to increase quality in the scientific field. Forty-five years later, that same organization is still driven by that same mission and is now one of the largest accreditation bodies in the United States. This year, A2LA is proud to celebrate its 45th Anniversary and all the work it has done along the way to improve quality for our customers around the world.
Ongoing Growth
A2LA’s growth and longevity can be credited to the leadership, staff, and assessors who recognize and understand the value of accreditation and work toward furthering quality on a global scale. Over the years, the programs A2LA offers have expanded to include an FCC Electromagnetic Compatibility Program, food testing, environmental testing, product certification, forensics, cannabis testing, and biobanking, and is considered a leader in the accreditation industry with a strong reputation for customer service and impartiality.
“When I started working at A2LA 27 years ago, I never imagined where we’d be today,” said Trace McInturff, Vice President of Accreditation Services at A2LA. “In 1996 we had only 882 certificates, now we’re well over 4,200. To have been a part of it has been exciting and an honor.”
Today, A2LA has 90 staff members, 258 assessors, and a long list of conformity assessment bodies with whom they work. Each year, A2LA hosts members of this community at the A2LA Annual Conference, one of the most valuable networking and educational events in the industry. A2LA also supports Technical Advisory Committees (TACs) for each of its programs to continue refining what it means to improve.
“We want to grow sustainably,” adds McInturff. “We want to make sure we’re doing things for the right reasons, and we make decisions with all the information and with positive intention.”
A2LA Membership Program
In addition, A2LA offers a membership program separate from accreditation. This professional society is driven by its members who believe in the same vision: “Accreditation Accepted Everywhere.” Members are individuals, organizations, and industry vendors that are committed to supporting, growing, and promoting the values of quality and competence through accreditation. Members receive information, education, networking opportunities, advertising benefits, training and conference discounts, and resources to advance their personal and career objectives in the field of accreditation.
Our Vision and Values
What sets A2LA apart is its unwavering focus on its core values and impartiality as an organization. Staff and assessors embody these values in all their work, from quality, integrity, and community, to accountability, and leadership. A2LA fosters a culture of continuous improvement and assists CABs (Conformity Assessment Body) in their journey to produce better results and succeed in their industries.
“Quality, care, and competence are what set us apart,” adds McInturff. “From our rigorous assessor training program to the outward care we show our customers, we work hard to always be responsive, fair, helpful, and impartial.”
The Future of Accreditation
The need for accreditation is stronger today than it has ever been before. With new technologies, evolving industries, and many moving pieces making up our global economy, the team at A2LA actively monitors these changes and anticipates outcomes to recognize new and emerging needs of our customers. We look forward to the future of accreditation and are grateful our customers choose us to help them improve their organizations.
A2LA thanks its staff, assessors, leadership, customers, vendors, partners, and friends for helping us reach this milestone. It’s been a successful 45 years of growth and we look forward to the next 45 years yet to come!