Calibration of "Working" Tools in Calibration Procedure - ISO 9001:2000

[AndyN]

In Reply to Parent Post by cagoohs

We have a similar issue at our company. Our current calibration system requires calibration of all tools, whether they be used by inspection or by the machinists. We were on a monthly calibration schedule for all hand tools, but as the company has grown, it is impossible to locate and calibrate over 200 hand tools every month, in addition to your regular duties. Recently we changed the calibration interval of shop tools to 90 days. We are still overwhelmed. One of the biggest problems is just trying to locate these tools. There are 8 machinists, and a shop foreman, most of which have about 20 tools. A couple machinists have no tools of their own, and use the shop tools. There are about 70 shop tools. Basically these tools are all over the place, sometimes locked in a machinist's toolbox, sometimes just missing. (Of course they will resurface during an audit.)
We are ISO 9001:2000 registered FAA Repair Station and have an AS9110 audit coming up. I have a few weeks to come up with a better system.

In addition to Jim's, Helmut's and Brad's help, it seems to me that you've got a challenge with the use of the calibration system. If you have people who lock equipment away so you can't locate it, I'd suggest you need an awareness session (or three) and some other strategies for dealing with equipment which is personally owned. My belief is that any machining company that doesn't own it's tools, relying on the personnel is asking for a measurement problem. It's a false economy to do it that way and is a 'ticking bomb' in view of the transient nature of some people. They leave and so does your measuring system.....

[Elynn]

In Reply to Parent Post by cagoohs

We have a similar issue at our company. Our current calibration system requires calibration of all tools, whether they be used by inspection or by the machinists. We were on a monthly calibration schedule for all hand tools, but as the company has grown, it is impossible to locate and calibrate over 200 hand tools every month, in addition to your regular duties. Recently we changed the calibration interval of shop tools to 90 days. We are still overwhelmed. One of the biggest problems is just trying to locate these tools. There are 8 machinists, and a shop foreman, most of which have about 20 tools. A couple machinists have no tools of their own, and use the shop tools. There are about 70 shop tools. Basically these tools are all over the place, sometimes locked in a machinist's toolbox, sometimes just missing. (Of course they will resurface during an audit.)
We are ISO 9001:2000 registered FAA Repair Station and have an AS9110 audit coming up. I have a few weeks to come up with a better system.

My question is... isn't there a tools control list, especially so for those that require Calibration?
We do breakdown the equipment accountability to the technician as they are the user of the equipment. Location of tools and equipment are as per stated in the list. Bi-weekly or monthly inspection will be done to ensure they are in place. Nothing of the sort of misplacing has happened for past 4 years.

What I'm stuck on is must I identify all the other measuring devices used on the production floor during the daily work details. The guys use these during the build process; they are not used for the critical/final dimension checks. I have been told that I must mark these as "FRO" (For Reference Only). What I want to know is must this be done? I've put a statement in the procedure that indicates any tool not identified as calibrated is by default "For Reference Only". Does this statement cover us per ISO 9001:2000 or must we mark each tool as FRO?

Not sure if this works, separate the control process between the 2 sections and ensure the tools are significantly marked and not used in the critical measurement. Also, create evidence that the tools are checked before used (like verification). I believe some recordings are done for critical measurement, which in the recording form, the device serial number can be including as evidence of using the calibrated tool.

[Elynn]

Hi again, another way is to do a reference object verification. Meaning tools sent for Calibration (for the critical measurement as required) measuring a reference object compare to a non-calibrated tool measuring the same reference object. If within the tolerance specified, should be acceptable. This must be included in the Quality process manual.

[LAKMAN]

In my view point even the tools used for measuring critical dimensions are to be calibrated as they are used to assure quality standard. Hence are to marked as appropriate.