I posted this question once before but never got a real response.
What does QS9000 say about calibration supplier requirements? Do they have to be ISO Guide 25 (or newer 17025)? Can they use the OEM supplier who is NOT accredited?
My boss/salesmen would like to be able to point out that we are ISO Guide 25 accredited for calibrations (specifically coating/plating thickness), while the main OEMs are not and keep saying they don't have to be. Is this true?
Someone please clear this up for me...
Thanks, Jerry
If you are in the supplier chain then you or your lab doesn't need accreditation to "Guide 25" per se, but you do need to document the tests you do, and the proper acceptance criteria.
However, if YOU are a commercial/independent lab who performs testing/calibration for an supplier/OEM then YOU need accreditation to "Guide 25" or an "acceptable" equivalent (this can incude national accreditiation - i.e. UKAS in Britain)
If YOU use a commercial/independent lab for testing then THEY must be "Guide 25" accredited or equivalent. Again this accreditation can be to the National equivalent.
It is true that an OEM doesn't need to be "Guide 25" or equivalent accredited, but the independent labs that they use must be.
[This message has been edited by Stuart Andrews (edited 31 May 2001).]
Hmmm... The problem we are running into is (we believe) that companies that are QS9000 (automotive, fastener, etc...) need a calibration service to certify their coating/plating thickness measurement equipment and reference standards.
The OEM that "made" their equipment and standards are not ISO Guide 25 or 17025, most are not even ISO9000. We are a calibration service company that services the equipment and standards and we ARE ISO Gudie 25.
The way we understand QS9000 to read is that as of 1/1/01, they are required to use an accredited lab if available. (Until we were accredited Guide 25 in Dec. there were none.)
So, can a QS9000 company use the OEM services if the OEM is not accredited but we are?
OK I've read your other thread from April and I think I know what you mean!
If there were no calibration services for a piece of equipment then the OEM would service it - regardless of their accreditation status.
Now that you have accreditation, you become the "qualified commercial/independent lab". So it is right to say that ALL the "plating equipment" should now be calibrated by you or be traceable back to you. The QS-9000 company must know about your service otherwise they will probably send it to the OEM.
It seems that you've cornered the market on this.
[This message has been edited by Stuart Andrews (edited 01 June 2001).]
QS9000 supplier reqts
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