AS9100 7.6 - Check Method - PO Information

[Mick1970]

In 7.6 (Control of Monitoring and Measuring Equipment) that the register needs to have “Check Methods”. I think most people are in agreement that Check Method refers to the actual calibration procedure for the piece of equipment being calibrated. What about equipment that is sent to an accredited calibration house? What is the check method in this scenario? I have a simple procedure that identifies that the outsourced equipment is calibrated by a vendor. In this scenario the calibration is controlled by the calibration supplier and the check method becomes the suppliers calibration procedure and the class, grade being calibrated to? We do state the tolerance, class, grade within the data of the record of our database and include that on the P.O. when we send our equipment out for calibration.

I would like to see what others think? I just had an auditor tell me that was not adequate.

 

[dsanabria]

Re: AS9100 7.6 Check Method

Auditors want to see the history and objective evidence of the results of the calibration. If it is done in-house, we need to see that the masters meets established requirement either by standards or unique requirements. This includes gauges provided by customers.

So you and the majority of individuals are on the right track.

As far as an auditor telling you that it is not adequate... ask the auditor for a reference of what they are talking about. Maybe that will teach them to stay true to the requirements and not their agenda.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Re: AS9100 7.6 Check Method

I just had an auditor tell me that was not adequate.

Is this just an opinion? An audit observation? A nonconformity statement?

As long as it is a not a nonconformity statement issued by the auditor, thank him/her for the comment and disregard it.

From what you describe, you are outsourcing some of the calibration to an outside lab, and you are adequately documenting the requirements associated with the results of the outsourced calibration process. I am sure in your contract with the lab, you have other relevant requirements, such as the need for them to inform you of the as-received condition and special flag if the item was found to be out of tolerance, when received by the lab.

If you were to agree with the auditor that you need to have the calibration procedure identified for the itens calibrated by the lab, then, by similarity, you would have to have, control and approve any other procedure of outsourced suppliers, including, as an example, your freight forwarding providers.

 

[BoardGuy]

In 7.6 (Control of Monitoring and Measuring Equipment) “Check Methods”. I think most people are in agreement that Check Method refers to the actual calibration procedure for the piece of equipment being calibrated.

Nope I would not agree with your definition.

AS9100, ISO 9000, Z540 or ISO 10012 does not contain a definition of “check method” so in reality it is what you define it as. Check method logically could be Internal or external calibration of the equipment/device also.

 

[Sidney Vianna]

Check method logically could be Internal or external calibration of the equipment/device also.

Logically? Not really, in my opinion.

Most knowledgeable people will agree that "check method" is the process/procedure used to verify if the device is providing accurate and reliable readings, including adjustments needed, if necessary.

Just because a term is not defined elsewhere, it does not give an organization the right to willy nilly play with words and confuse the intent of the requirement.