Calibration Status of Gauges for Training Only

[bigqman]

Background: I am helping a business - specifically their Training team & with a QMS scope of training internal customers - achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification.
Currently - Monitoring or measuring may be performed by Trainers during　　　　　　　　　 　　　
classroom and / or field training events. - For classroom trainings, any monitoring or measuring equipment used is for simulation purposes only and calibration status is not required. - For field trainings, any equipment used has its calibration and maintenance managed by another internal business unit and is outside the scope of the Training QMS.　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
* Before an event Trainers, due to lack of time or resource constraints, do not always ensure that the equipment is labeled "Calibrated" and has a future Due Date on the label.

What are the factors in weighing the risk of using uncalibrated equipment for field training purposes only? I appreciate you helping me think this through!

 

[try2makeit]

Can you calibrate everything, and then mark the gages that are being used for training or field uses as such and have them at a different location then the ones used for work? Think that be a lot easier then wondering which one to calibrate and which one not. Also I would say no other gages that people bring in from other sources need to be calibrated also and documented.

 

[Ron Rompen]

If the gauges in question are to be used for training purposes only, and will not be used for any other purpose, I would suggest specifically identifying them (paint them a different color, or some other permanent method that is readily visible) and identify them in your gage calibration log as 'not to be calibrated - for training purposes only).

 

[PaulJSmith]

Seems to me that a good training program should include identification of calibration status before using the device. This would require at least some of the training devices to be calibrated, I would think; maybe one or two that are not as examples.

As for field use, so long as those devices are not used for actual product acceptance, then there should be little to no risk. That part has to be very clear, though. Without that clarity, the risk goes up dramatically.

 

[bigqman]

Thank you Paul et al. In that the validity of a measurement result is an essential part of determining competence I will urge the Training Team to develop a log, identify the population of gages (maybe purchasing records and / or physical inventory) and make sure every has a sticker or clear marking indicator as suggested. They should model for their trainees the practice of checking and honoring the sticker / marking.