I am a calibration supervisor for a auto parts maker. Right now, over 50% of our workforce is laid off. All of the gage technicians were laid off because the plant managers said the gages were not being used so they weren't showing any wear. The Quality Manager gave me an approval for calibrations to fall past due except for the ones currently being used. After more than a month the technicians were called back to catch up on past due calibrations.

Our gage intervals are based on the length of time such as 6 months, one year etc.

Recently, one of our gage suppliers mentioned the use of bar coding gages on usage instead of time. Our gage system does have the option of usage verses time. Although this would eliminate the use of employed gage technicians, it would benefit the company.

Does anyone know about this method of gage calibration, how it works or where I can get more information?

Thank you
Kat

The concept can be valid; however there should be a maximum time as well, else you have ten years before you re-calibrate a caliper.

That's a good idea.

Thanks
Kat

Kat,

First of all you need to look at the requirements of ISO 17025 to see if this method is acceptable. What are requirements of the Quality Management System Standard your organization operates under (TS 16949) and what do your customers contracts required?

Other items that must be defined are:

Gage preservation checks of unused calibrated gages.
Process for issuing gages to production
How user will know calibration status of gage
Maximum time between calibrations for unused gages in storage
Is this calibration control method acceptable to your customers

Kat, I am always excited about new opportunities to manage calibration activity.:agree1:

The thing is, I'm not sure if # of uses is the sole contributor to an item needing to be calibrated. Some mfg./models of instruments are less reliable than others. Too, I would surmise you have some kind of a staggered program, where the same gauges/same area does not come due at once.

I think the system might work after it got going. But it would be challenging getting it going. Primarily, how many uses indicates optimal calibration time, trying to schedule calibration resources when things come due.

Just some thoughts.