Lab technician in a white coat using a tablet in a modern laboratory setting, demonstrating the thoroughness needed to achieve 6.0 accreditation

iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen

6.0 Accreditation: Setting a New Benchmark in Lab Quality

Pursuing 6.0 accreditation? Learn how labs can tackle challenges, meet standards, and gain a competitive edge with this certification

| 3 min read
Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
3:00

For Mukesh Jani, founder and lab director of Torrent Laboratory, pursuing 6.0 accreditation wasn’t just about meeting compliance—it was about setting a new benchmark for quality and service. In this Q&A, Jani shares the challenges, lessons, and rewards of achieving this gold standard in accreditation and offers advice for other lab leaders aiming to elevate their operations.

What motivated you to pursue 6.0 accreditation?

As an existing DoD/DOE certified lab, we had to get the 6.0 accreditation to continue to stay in compliance. We had two years to complete the process, from 2024-2026 but we proactively decided to pursue within the first six months of the launch of 6.0 because we were ready and felt this accreditation was important to maintain our offerings as a lab that provides its customers the highest level of service of quality.

Lab manager academy logo

Get training in Lab Quality and earn CEUs.

One of over 25 IACET-accredited courses in the Academy.

Certification logo

Lab Quality course

Headshot image of Mukesh JAni


Mukesh Jani

What were some key challenges you needed to overcome?

6.0 is a very comprehensive standard, primarily to make sure the lab produces very robust quality. The DoD and DOE have very in-depth and comprehensive requirements for the various elements that are extremely scientific in nature. Thus, we knew we had to make sure we were complying in all aspects of their requirements for the accreditation.

Torrent’s first accreditation was 4.1. Over the past 10 years since then, we’ve pursued every updated accreditation (4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 4.7, 4.9, 5.1, 5.3, 5.4). Even with a decade of practicing the DoD and DOE’s previous standards, it took us a solid six months to fully understand, get ready, and pursue the 6.0 accreditation process.

What was the biggest learning from this experience?

The biggest learning from this experience was that the lab had to be diligent about continuously reviewing the process, adhering to the protocols, documenting everything, and making sure that everything we did was traceable. We feel that this diligence is what defines the quality of our lab from the rest.

What has been the impact on the lab staff of working toward, and then achieving, 6.0 accreditation?

The entire lab was involved. Without the total involvement of everyone in the lab, we would not have been able to accomplish this accreditation. It involved hundreds and hundreds of man hours in addition to their regular work, which made it challenging. However, this now opens new opportunities for the lab and the staff, which we’re all very excited about.

To keep morale high [throughout the accreditation process], we organize company-wide lunches every Wednesday and Friday. Employees get an opportunity to enjoy different cuisines from the world while also coming together as a community. It also fosters an environment of collaboration as they discuss ideas, challenges, and solutions. This sense of community is extremely important and creates a system of support and understanding that no single employee is tasked with the work. It’s collaborative and purpose-driven, which increases everyone’s motivation to work together.

Interested in lab leadership?

Subscribe to our free Lab Leadership Digest Newsletter.

Is the form not loading? If you use an ad blocker or browser privacy features, try turning them off and refresh the page.

What advice would you share with other lab managers about pursuing 6.0 accreditation?

My advice is that you have to commit to the process, it cannot be a halfway measure. You need teamwork, coordination, and collaboration throughout the laboratory. The entire organization, from the director to the managers to everyone in the lab, needs to be committed and involved in the process to succeed. It cannot be a half-hearted effort.

I would also recommend when pursuing 6.0 or any accreditation to collaborate with the agency itself. Besides their written guidelines, it is critical to ask them about their expectations, purpose, objective, goals, and most importantly, the non-negotiable things they want to see. When new protocols and standards come out, there’s always an underlying goal. It helps to get this information directly from the certifying body so that everyone is on the same page and as a lab, you are successful in achieving the certifications you’re pursuing.


 As the founder and president of Torrent, Mukesh Jani has over three decades of experience in analytical chemistry, process engineering and business management. Under his leadership, Torrent has grown significantly in capacity, capabilities and geographic reach as well as earned several industry certifications, including accreditation from California ELAP, Department of Defense and Department of Energy.

Mukesh's commitment to the environment goes beyond Torrent. He was a volunteer park ranger at the Henry Coe State Park in California for nearly five years. Mukesh is an avid reader who also loves listening to Indian classical music and traveling to new places.

About the Author

  • Lauren Everett headshot

    Lauren Everett

    Lauren Everett is the managing editor for Lab Manager. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from SUNY New Paltz and has more than a decade of experience in news reporting, feature writing, and editing. She oversees the production of Lab Manager’s editorial print and online content, collaborates with industry experts for speaking engagements, and works with internal and freelance writers to deliver high-quality content. She has also led the editorial team to win Tabbie Awards in 2022, 2023, and 2024. This awards program recognizes exceptional B2B journalism and publications. 

    Lauren enjoys spending her spare time hiking, snowboarding, and keeping up with her two young children. She can be reached at leverett@labmanager.com.

Related Topics

Loading Next Article...
Loading Next Article...

CURRENT ISSUE - January/February 2025

Energizing Leadership in Action

The science-backed behaviors that help leaders inspire thriving teams and organizations

Lab Manager January/February 2025 Cover Image