Test labs that demonstrate high levels of mechanical or electrical
competency often pursue and attain ISO17025 accreditation.  This
accreditation may be granted by independant audits conducted by
certified third parties such as A2LA (American Association of
Laboratory Acceditation).  As with any accreditation, there are costs
which include initial audits and fees, sustaining audit costs,
equipment calibration traceability to other accredited calibration
houses, etc...
Now the question.   What are the greatest benefits to a company to
continue with such accreditation under mounting pressures to justify
the costs of accreditation.  Include statstics such as other fortune
500 companies and how the lab made a difference to their bottom line
by keeping in house accreditation and tests costs as a competitive
advantage.  Better yet, include an example of a company that neglected
its accreditation and lost more than it anticipated.

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Clarification of Question by nyscubadiver-ga on 30 Nov 2004 18:23 PST

Clarification:  the company in question makes portable electronic
devices.  They presently have both Mechanical and Electrical ISO17025
certification.
Have had accreditation for two years.
Lab testing only for in house and third party OEM product, no outside
testing services provided.