Calibration by a non-ISO 17025 Laboratory

[lostmanager]

We sent out a gauge (100K psi) to get calibrated. They respond back that they are not 17025 accredited but can do the test as “as found” and “as left” data and are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We are ISO 9001:2008, is this acceptable or find a lab that is accredited. Thank you.

 

[qusys]

Re: ISO 17025

It depends on how the process has been set by your organization. To use external lab ISO 17025 accredited is not an ISO 9001 requirement but ISO TS ones.
In any case, your organization shall set criteria to calibrate tools and demonstrated to have control on outsourcer when this activity is performed outside.
How do you ensure that this tool provides valid results?
However it is very strange to me this external lab is not ISO q17025 accredited for that measurement and they are traceable to NIST...it seems a contradiction
What results are reported on the calibration certificate? Is there the accuracy and the error?

 

[lostmanager]

Thanks for the reply. I know we have other vendors that we use for calibration of gauges that is not 17025, so my answer would be that it is ok, going by what the company has done in the past. As long as we have all the data to support a good calibration that is traceable to the NIST.

 

[Kales Veggie]

We sent out a gauge (100K psi) to get calibrated. They respond back that they are not 17025 accredited but can do the test as ?as found? and ?as left? data and are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We are ISO 9001:2008, is this acceptable or find a lab that is accredited. Thank you.

Yes, it is acceptable for ISO 9001:2008.

(not for TS 16949 for example).

Also check your customer requirements.

 

[Hershal]

We sent out a gauge (100K psi) to get calibrated. They respond back that they are not 17025 accredited but can do the test as ?as found? and ?as left? data and are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). We are ISO 9001:2008, is this acceptable or find a lab that is accredited. Thank you.

The main thing to watch here is traceability. Based on the statement of traceable to NIST, I presume they and perhaps you are in the US.

Every lab in the US will claim traceability to NIST. The proof is in the pudding so to speak.

First, what is the documented path of the calibration of their standards? Second, have they provided uncertainty or have it available for you? Absent either or both, the claim of traceability to NIST is just that - a claim.

That does not mean they do not know what they are doing. They may be highly competent. But the documentation for the traceability is what needs to be proven.

Hope this helps.