Validating Tape Measures used to Measure Product Conformity to Requirements

[QMS QUB]

Anyone have any idea how to valiDate tape measures to meet the requirements outlines by ISO 9001:2008.?

Or is it enough to say they 'visually' inspected to check for nicks etc, in conjunction with a schedule?

These tape measures ARE used to measure product conformity to customer requirements.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

 

[The Specialist]

Anyone have any idea how to valiDate tape measures to meet the requirements outlines by ISO 9001:2008.?

Or is it enough to say they 'visually' inspected to check for nicks etc, in conjunction with a schedule?

These tape measures ARE used to measure product conformity to customer requirements.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

The 'validation' is as simple as recording that the tape measure has been verified as accurate against a known 'standard'.

That is to say that a certified 'accurate' measure (1) has been used to determine the accuracy of the measure (2).

A certificate shall be issued to the effect that the tape measure has been "verified/calibrated, traceable to a national standard".

 

[QMS QUB]

what do you mean by a known standard? can you give an example?

Can this be acheived internally?

 

[Stijloor]

what do you mean by a known standard? can you give an example?

Can this be achieved internally?

"Tape Measures" has been a hot topic here at The Cove Forums.

Stijloor.

 

[DomDom]

Hi,

Have you considered doing a MSE (Measurment system evaluation) for this tape mesurer?

Couple of years ago, we had loads of claims from our customers because of the width of the product delivered was too big compare to their specs. Could have been the person who handled the tape as well as the tape itself.
The MSE helped us find out that the tape mesurer has a variation due to the little metal part at the end! If new, it doesn't move, when used, it can create a variation that put us out of specs!

Hope that helps

 

[Mark Cost]

what do you mean by a known standard? can you give an example?

Can this be acheived internally?

QMS,
We used rules traced back to NIST.
Here is what I would do: 1). Buy a set of steel rules; 2). Have them certified by an accredited lab; 3). Set up procedures to verify the tape measures in-house are "acceptable".
The key here is what is "acceptable". Generally speaking, steel rules are not going to be able to verify a full 25' tape measure. AND, if you are trying to hold 2 thousandths... that ain't gonna happen. But, if the tape measures are in increments of 32nds and you need to hold 1/4", you should be good. It all goes back to what the requirements are for the individual job. Again, if you have a 25' piece with a tolerance of ± 1/128th, you are probably not going to be able to do it in-house. But, at ± 1/4", you probably can.
If anyone else has anything to add, please do. I am NO EXPERT!

 

[MBraun76]

QMS,
We used rules traced back to NIST.
Here is what I would do: 1). Buy a set of steel rules; 2). Have them certified by an accredited lab; 3). Set up procedures to verify the tape measures in-house are "acceptable".
The key here is what is "acceptable". Generally speaking, steel rules are not going to be able to verify a full 25' tape measure. AND, if you are trying to hold 2 thousandths... that ain't gonna happen. But, if the tape measures are in increments of 32nds and you need to hold 1/4", you should be good. It all goes back to what the requirements are for the individual job. Again, if you have a 25' piece with a tolerance of ± 1/128th, you are probably not going to be able to do it in-house. But, at ± 1/4", you probably can.
If anyone else has anything to add, please do. I am NO EXPERT!

We check the accuracy of our tape measures every 6 months as part of our calibration procedure. I have a 72" steel scale and I use that to compare the tape measures to. I also do a quick visual on the tape itself for any major defects. The goal is to just make sure that the rivets that holds the clip on the end of the tape are not worn out and allowing for more movement than the clip is supposed to have. We have never had a problem during any of our audits with this method.

 

[badkins1]

Some tape vendors will provide certificates of calibration showing that they were calibrated against a know NIST Traceable source.

Depending on the work environment, they may only last 3 to 6 months; therefore visual inspection by the operator of the tape end before each use and a quick check against a working standard may all that you want to have in place. Replace as worn or necessary.