I once had a debate with a very well versed quality manager about this issue. He wanted to know why we have to put stickers on all the equipment. His contention was, "why couldn't we just maintain a good recall system"?
An interesting point of view that probably would go over like a lead balloon with an auditor. So I don't recommend that. However, it did evoke a great deal of thought on my part about the whole issue.
The issue is having an effective method to assure that the user of the instrument can not use an out of calibration instrument (past due date). How you do that can take many forms. At my former lab (that factory shut down before I could complete implementation), I connected my recall database to the production control database. When an operator in the factory attempted to perform measurements on an instrument past due calibration, the system would not let them perform the measurement. Having given that manager's comments a great deal of thought, it was my intent to eventually have all measuring instruments logged into the production database. Even portable test equipment used in maintenance. Maintenance or product testing could not be completed on any instrument past due calibration. Once a system like that were fully implemented, it would make calibration stickers obsolete.
Obviously, not every company has such an elaborate system to use. I bring it up to make the point that there are countless methods to fulfill the need to make sure an operator knows not to use past due instruments. I have seen companies color code the epoxy sealant in the handles of torque wrenches. Then there were little cards (about the size of pocket calendars) given to each owner, a supply of them to hand out with each new calibration, large color signs hung all over the factory, and other measures to make sure the operators identified whether their tools were past due or not.
I think you can get pretty creative, and make something that works well for you. You could engrave unique ID's on the tools and keep something posted to assure they can't be used past the due date; You could automate it somehow; you could investigate oil resistant labelling; or many other options.
Jim Triller in his reply above offered another creative method. I don't believe it is implicit anywhere in newer standards that the labelling has to be a 'calibration sticker' on the unit with cal date, due date, ID, etc. That is a convenient standard method that works well for many applications (in those cases, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
However, there are always the exceptions, and circumstances where creativity has to be applied.
------------------
An interesting point of view that probably would go over like a lead balloon with an auditor. So I don't recommend that. However, it did evoke a great deal of thought on my part about the whole issue.
The issue is having an effective method to assure that the user of the instrument can not use an out of calibration instrument (past due date). How you do that can take many forms. At my former lab (that factory shut down before I could complete implementation), I connected my recall database to the production control database. When an operator in the factory attempted to perform measurements on an instrument past due calibration, the system would not let them perform the measurement. Having given that manager's comments a great deal of thought, it was my intent to eventually have all measuring instruments logged into the production database. Even portable test equipment used in maintenance. Maintenance or product testing could not be completed on any instrument past due calibration. Once a system like that were fully implemented, it would make calibration stickers obsolete.
Obviously, not every company has such an elaborate system to use. I bring it up to make the point that there are countless methods to fulfill the need to make sure an operator knows not to use past due instruments. I have seen companies color code the epoxy sealant in the handles of torque wrenches. Then there were little cards (about the size of pocket calendars) given to each owner, a supply of them to hand out with each new calibration, large color signs hung all over the factory, and other measures to make sure the operators identified whether their tools were past due or not.
I think you can get pretty creative, and make something that works well for you. You could engrave unique ID's on the tools and keep something posted to assure they can't be used past the due date; You could automate it somehow; you could investigate oil resistant labelling; or many other options.
Jim Triller in his reply above offered another creative method. I don't believe it is implicit anywhere in newer standards that the labelling has to be a 'calibration sticker' on the unit with cal date, due date, ID, etc. That is a convenient standard method that works well for many applications (in those cases, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).
However, there are always the exceptions, and circumstances where creativity has to be applied.
------------------