we are currently using a calibration company to come in and calibrate our test equipment, however although they are accredited to ISO9001 they are not UKAS accredited. I have been informed by a customer quality manager that this is against the AS standard.
After speaking to the company they have informed me that their calibration equipment is calibrated itself by a UKAS company and they have full traceability. Is this enough to satisfy the standard or do i have to stop using an exceptionally good and reliable company to use a UKAS registered company.
Any help much appreciated.
The AS9100 standard requires you to control the outsourcing of the calibration process. However, differently from, e.g., ISO/TS 16949, there are no special requirements in AS9100 related to internal and external calibration labs. Still, you want to ensure that the calibration service provider is qualified for the work.
As mentioned already, please check this customer's contractual requirements and see if they have augmented the requirements for this type of sub-tier provider.
One more thing: terminology is important. Your calibration service provider is not accredited to ISO 9001. They might be certified to ISO 9001 under an accreditation scheme. And, if their ISO 9001 certification is NOT issued by an accreditation body under the IAF scheme, you should ask them why.
There are many organizations out there that are duped by scam artists and don't know better how to differentiate a properly accredited certificate from a phony one. But there are also those who know very well the difference between a PROPER certification and, still decide to seek "alternatively/pseudo" accredited certification. The latter are promoting a mockery of the certification process and they should be asked why they are being accomplice in unethical practices. After all, if a supplier deliberately engages in questionable practices, you should ask yourself: where else are they cutting corners?
