How does the ISO 9001 quality system standard relate to ISO/IEC 17025?

The relationship between ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 is one of complementarity. ISO 9001 is a quality management system standard that establishes the framework for quality management practices, focusing on customer satisfaction and continual improvement through effective processes. On the other hand, ISO/IEC 17025 is specifically aimed at laboratories and outlines requirements for their competence and capability in generating valid and reliable test results, as well as calibration activities.

ISO 9001 provides a broad, organization-wide management structure, while ISO/IEC 17025 addresses the specific needs of testing and calibration laboratories within that framework. Laboratories that are adhering to ISO/IEC 17025 will typically also align with ISO 9001 to enhance their quality management practices, thus showcasing the complementary nature of the two standards. They work in tandem to ensure the laboratories are not only competent in their technical capabilities but also operate under a robust quality management system.

In contrast, the other options suggest a different relationship that does not reflect the reality of how these standards interact. For instance, claiming incompatibility or that one supersedes the other does not accurately represent their intended uses, nor does it acknowledge the benefit of applying both standards simultaneously in laboratory settings.