Case Study
KENAS conducts method validation, measurement uncertainty, and decision rule in-house training for Polucon Services Kenya Ltd
Summary
In July 2024, the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) facilitated an intensive in-house training program for Polucon Services Kenya Ltd., held at Sunrise Resort in Mombasa. This five-day training focused on essential components of the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, including Method Validation, Uncertainty of Measurement, and Decision Rule, tailored specifically to the needs of Polucon’s testing and calibration laboratory practices. Sponsored by the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP), this initiative aimed to support Polucon’s commitment to quality, accuracy, and continual improvement.
Background
As a privately owned firm, Polucon Group is dedicated to providing Laboratory Testing, Inspection, and Environmental Monitoring Services, with its testing laboratory recently reaccredited by KENAS in February 2023. Polucon’s strategic objective, “Empowering society through safety and sustainability for a better future,” aligns with KENAS’s mission to enhance laboratory standards through specialized training.
The Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship Project (KIEP) is a USD 50 million project implemented by the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry with support from the World Bank from 2018 to 2024. The Project aims to increase innovation and productivity in select private-sector firms. By strengthening the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, increasing firm-level innovation and productivity, KIEP envisages the transformation of the Kenyan economy, partially through a higher contribution of the manufacturing industry and exporting sectors to GDP.
Component 2 of KIEP, the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) Linkages and Upgrading Program focuses on strengthening the managerial and technical capabilities within Kenyan SMEs, to enable them to better compete for local and international market opportunities. This component supported Polucon Group by encouraging innovation and productivity improvements at a firm level.
Strategy
The five-day training was designed to address specific operational needs within Polucon’s laboratories, focusing on core areas such as traceability, probability distribution, statistical calculations, and uncertainty sources. Participants were expected to gain practical skills in validating testing methods, calculating uncertainty, and applying decision rules effectively.
In-house training offers notable advantages: it can be tailored to meet an organisation’s unique requirements, facilitates training within a familiar environment, and fosters team cohesion and a shared understanding of best practices. These benefits were evident as Polucon’s teams engaged with the training materials, bringing their real-world laboratory challenges to the discussion.
Results and impact
Feedback from nine participants revealed a high level of satisfaction. Of those who responded via a Google form, 88.9% felt the training completely met their expectations, while 11.1% felt it moderately met their needs. Participants expressed interest in future trainings on risk management, internal quality audits, and implementation strategies, reflecting a broader commitment to ongoing professional development within Polucon.
The training effectively met its objectives, equipping Polucon laboratory practitioners with valuable skills and insights into measurement uncertainty and method validation. This knowledge is expected to enhance laboratory practices in both the Mombasa and Nairobi labs. While some participants, particularly recent hires, required additional familiarity with the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard, the training was a crucial step toward strengthening Polucon’s operational standards.
In summary, this training marked a significant milestone in Polucon’s pursuit of excellence, supporting its goal of upholding high standards in laboratory operations and advancing the firm’s mission to contribute to safety and sustainability for society’s benefit.
Figure 1: Method Validation, Measurement Uncertainty, and Decision Rule In-House Training for Polucon Services Kenya Ltd. KENAS CEO, Dr. Walter Ongeti (seated – middle). The trainer (seated – left) was KENAS Calibration Laboratories Manager Mr. Stanslaus Masinza
Figure 2: Some staff from Polucon Services Kenya Ltd Mombasa Laboratory staff with KENAS CEO in the middle (in spectacles) and Mr. Stanslaus Masinza, KENAS Calibration Laboratories Manager (extreme right) and Emma Kinuthia, KENAS Principal Training & Capacity Building Officer
Contact
Kenya Accreditation Service
Email: info@kenas.go.ke
Tel: 020 484 0000
Website: www.kenas.go.ke
Written by Mutetei Mutisya Email: mutisyam@kenas.go.ke
Sectors
Economies
Standards
Sustainable Development Goals
