Alexandra Couto
Senior Consultant | Quality | Metrology | ISO 9001 | ISO/IEC 17025 | Auditing | Calibration | Quality Control | Technical Training
About the specialist
Consultant specialised in Quality, Metrology, Management Systems and Quality Control, with experience in accredited laboratory environments, production processes and calibration activities.
Throughout her professional experience she has taken on technical and operational coordination responsibilities, equipment and resource management, audit planning and follow-up, performance indicator monitoring, risk and nonconformity management and the follow-up of corrective and improvement actions.
She has solid knowledge of ISO 9001 and NP EN ISO/IEC 17025 requirements, with experience coordinating calibration activities and ensuring metrological traceability, namely in temperature, humidity and pressure.
Her experience also includes leading and training technical teams, following continual improvement processes, analysing certificates, defining and reviewing calibration procedures and methods and controlling production processes.
She combines technical knowledge of Metrology and Quality with leadership, training, technical communication and problem-solving skills, supporting organisations in improving processes, meeting normative requirements and developing their teams.
Areas of Expertise
Quality and Management Systems
- ISO 9001 – Quality Management System
- NP EN ISO/IEC 17025 – Requirements for testing and calibration laboratories
- Quality Management System audits
- Quality control and assurance
- Nonconformity management
- Risk management
- Corrective actions
- Continual improvement
- KPI monitoring
Metrology and Calibration
- Technical coordination of calibration activities
- Accredited calibrations
- Temperature, humidity and pressure
- Metrological traceability
- Measuring equipment management
- Definition and review of calibration criteria and methods
- Certificate analysis
- Compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements
Quality Control and Processes
- Quality control
- Product validation
- Production process control
- Performance indicator monitoring
- Equipment management and control
- Maintenance planning and supervision
- Reporting
- Identification and reporting of operational risks
Training and Development
- Technical team training
- Team leadership
- Quality training
- Metrology training
- ISO 9001 requirements training
- ISO/IEC 17025 requirements training
- Technical skills development
Sectors of Experience
Credentials
10+ years of professional experience
- Professional experience in Metrology, Quality, Quality Control and Production
- ISO 9001:2015 Auditor – CQI–IRCA (ID 669970)
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems Lead Auditor (IRCA)
- Metrology Experimenters course
- Pedagogical Competences course (CCP)
- Experience in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory
- Experience in an ISO 9001 certified laboratory
Available Services
Quality and Management Systems Consulting
Support in implementing, maintaining and improving Quality Management Systems, with particular focus on ISO 9001 requirements.
Metrology Consulting
Technical support in organising and improving measurement systems, calibration, metrological traceability, equipment management and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
Audits
Conducting and supporting Quality Management System audits, identifying nonconformities, assessing risks and following up corrective actions.
Process Improvement
Support in process analysis and optimisation, KPI definition and monitoring, nonconformity management and continual improvement initiatives.
Training
Technical training programmes in Quality, Metrology, ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 17025, auditing and quality control, tailored to organisations and their teams.