Qualifying Suppliers of Calibration Services

Help! In reply to our auditor's question of how we qualify our outside suppliers of calibration, our Mgmt Rep responded that we would either have them provide proof of ISO certification, we would do an on-site audit, or, we would accept proof of their A2LA accredidation, etc.. I feel as if we may have painted ourselves into a corner here. What other means are acceptable to qualify these folks?

[Marc]

What's the status of your current calibration services suppliers? Are any ISO? Most companies are asking for some form of 'certification'. Why do you think you painted yourself into a corner?

Our main concern is one supplier who also happens to be the manufactureer of the piece of equipment in question. No, they are not ISO certified. I feel we've painted ourselves into the corner because we put right in our procedure that we would require them to be ISO certified, accredited, or we would make an on-site visit. We are a small company and the on-site visit isn't real practical.

JANIE,
REVISE YOUR PROCEDURE. MAKE IT FIT YOUR SITUATION. OUR SUPPLIERS THAT ARE MANUFACTURES OF THAT EQUIPMENT ARE QUALIFIED ONLY ON THAT BASIS. AFTER ALL WHO BETTER TO KNOW THAT PRODUCT BUT THE MANUFACTURER THEMSELVES.

[Marc]

Sorry not to get back right away - am doing training in Florida for the week.

I agree with Scott - revise procedure - revise qualification criteria.

[barb butrym]

ditto here

it has to be value added, don't fall into a trap of "going through the motions"

[Dawn]

We have 3 suppliers of testing who are not accredited labs. One lab is QS certified but the standard states they cannot be certified to QS? Why is this? What can we do to be in compliance with these labs?
Also, what do we have to do to become an accredited lab?
Also, do we have to be accredited to do our own calibration?
Thanks in advance....

[Marc]

I'm making some guesses here - what does your company do (Service? Manufacture? What?)

Umm, well - if an independent lab says they're QS certified, ask to see a copy of their certification. See what it says. Get a copy and FAX it to me. I'd love to see it!

QS9000 was targeted at companies who manufacture items for Ford, GM and/or Chrysler. Labs provide a service, not a 'product' per se. To my knowledge an independent lab is not 'certifiable' (a word here - companies actually register to ISO9000 [and qs9000 for that matter since a qs registration is an ISO9001 registration with additional stuff]. Yes - everyone says they are 'Certified' but they are [call me Clinton for the use of definitions] really REGISTERED. That's why they're called Registrars - they register companies. They don't certify a thing.)

There are places to contact and you can be audited to their 'spec'. The A2LA folks are at: http://www.a2la.org/ if you're a lab (what does your company do?).

NO - you do not have to be 'certified' to do your own calibrations, but you have to have a documented system and calibration procedures. You must also be ready to show evidence that your standards masters are traceable, etc. Standard cal stuff.

Maybe thaqt answers a few of your questions.