Calibration vs. Verification and Measurement Device Labeling

D

DCORCOR1

#1
Hi Folks,

1st time posting.

My question is during a recent Audit, the Auditor commented that although we reference all our calibration activities as Calibrations we perform a lot of verifications. These Verifications are not logged as verifications but as calibrations.
Looking at ISO 7.6 it references calibration/verification.

Should our calibration labels state calibration or verification or can we still class everything as a calibration?
 
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harry

Super Moderator
#2
Re: Calibration vs verification

Welcome to the forum.

You've touched on a hotly debated topic in the Cove. In general usage, the two terms can mean the same. See arguments in these 2 threads:

Calibration vs. Verification of Calibration vs. Verification - Definitions
Calibration vs. Verification - Definition of

But in metrology terms, there are differences. Calibration includes determination of measurement uncertainty (MU) to complete the chain of traceability to the national or international standard. Anything less and it is verification.

Should our calibration labels state calibration or verification or can we still class everything as a calibration?
If you are not able to work out the MU, it is verification.
 
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qusys

Trusted Information Resource
#3
Re: Calibration vs verification

Hi Folks,

1st time posting.

My question is during a recent Audit, the Auditor commented that although we reference all our calibration activities as Calibrations we perform alot of verifications. These Verifications are not logged as verifications but as calibrations.
Looking at ISO 7.6 it references calibration/verification.

Should our calibration labels state calibration or verification or can we still class everything as a calibration?
There is a difference between calibration and verification ( or adjustment).
The first is done vs certified standard, the second is refered to a sort of "calibration before use" , in sense of adjust before using a tool, done by the technican following a known procedure or work instruction to do this.
You could use two different label in order to make the process clear and report this in your calibration procedure.
You can use the label " calibration before use" for that kind of tools, " for reference only" for other tools that you have assessed not to be calibrated and another label for calibrated tools ( externally or inside you organization ,depending on you) reporting the date of the last calibration and the one related to the next one.
Hope this could work:bigwave:
 
#4
Re: Calibration vs verification

There is a difference between calibration and verification ( or adjustment).
The first is done vs certified standard, the second is refered to a sort of "calibration before use" , in sense of adjust before using a tool, done by the technican following a known procedure or work instruction to do this.
The need for adjustment has nothing to do with calibration or verification! Indeed, many items of test or measuring equipment cannot be adjusted, but they can be calibrated or verified as correct.

Dcorcor1 - please scroll to the bottom of this page for more posts on the subject.

However, a question in my mind is whether the auditor thought they were being helpful with such a comment? Verification doesn't necessarily imply the same degree of detail as a calibration - for example I might use a 0-25mm micrometer to quickly verify a pin gauge size, without using the same techniques or technical requirements for a calibration of such a pin gauge.

Is the auditor saying you are calling something calibration which is, in fact verification? Are you clear about the differences? Is this an nc? Can you derive any (cost) benefit from researching this more?

These kind of auditor's 'throw-away' comments without some further basis of qualification seem to me to open up more questions than are really helpful!
 

bobdoering

Stop X-bar/R Madness!!
Trusted Information Resource
#6
Re: Calibration vs verification

Verification doesn't necessarily imply the same degree of detail as a calibration - for example I might use a 0-25mm micrometer to quickly verify a pin gauge size, without using the same techniques or technical requirements for a calibration of such a pin gauge.
I agree. Verification can mean utilizing a set standard daily to ensure the gage is still set correctly. Calibration should ensure that the device is usable across its range (linearity), is in adequate condition (wear, such as flatness of anvil faces), stable (although you will lose this if people are constantly resetting the gage using verification) and of course duplicates within its specifications the measure of a standard traceable to a national standard. I do not consider it as really the same thing - although it is clear that there is no defined distinction.

Is the auditor saying you are calling something calibration which is, in fact verification? Are you clear about the differences? Is this an nc? Can you derive any (cost) benefit from researching this more?

These kind of auditor's 'throw-away' comments without some further basis of qualification seem to me to open up more questions than are really helpful!
We would need to have seen the issue to agree or disagree with the auditor. There may or may not have been sufficient detail in the finding to ensure people not participating in the audit would get a clear understanding of the issue. The OP has not given sufficient detail of the event.
 

BradM

Staff member
Admin
#7
My first thoughts when I saw this thread were along the lines of Bob and Andy.

Set aside the age-old argument of cal vs. verification. I am intrigued with the OP's situation, and why an auditor would be concerned with it.

Now, I think the OP needs to be clear as to what they are defining things, and the labeling should reflect the current status. But I can't imagine why it would be that important about labeling the difference.

My opinion: read the discussions here about the differences, decide for yourself, and then document it. What you call each, I would make sure they are clearly labeled.
 
D

DCORCOR1

#8
Thanks folks,
the issue was that for Bespoke hard gauging we might measure the size of a gauge is cannot be adjusted. The Auditor felt that this was a verification and we state all all our actions are calibrations. Verification is not defined in our prcedure.
He did not think it was a major issue, just a observation.
We are thinking of putting a reference to verification in the procedure and state that for our calibration system we are classing verifying and calibrations as a calibration so all our labels and systems are standard.
ie. All gauges what ever type and method are calibrated.

is this ok.
 

bobdoering

Stop X-bar/R Madness!!
Trusted Information Resource
#9
If you have a hard gage, it should have a print with specifications. If the gage is checked with a traceable, calibrated gage of significantly better resolution than the what the gage is measuring (e.g. gage block), is in good conditon, etc. then it is calibrated. As was mentioned before adjustment is not a requirement of calibration (ever adjust a gage pin?) - just an option for some gages.
 

automoto

Involved In Discussions
#10
In my opinion:
Calibration is setting or correcting an gauge, usually by adjusting it to match or conform to a dependably known and traceable standard (e.g. adjusting a micrometer or caliper to conform to master blocks traceable to national standards).
Verification is confirming that the gauge is meeting or performing to acceptable national measurement standards and does not involve any correction or adjustment (e.g. verifying a ruler or tape measure against a calibrated ruler that has been calibrated to a national standard). A ruler or tape measure is generally not capable of being calibrated and when it gets out of calibration its use must be discontinued.
There are gauges’s that are capable of being both calibrated and verified (e.g. a CMM- coordinate measuring machine) and may require both to be done in specific situations based on frequency of use and criticality of measurement.

Aleš
 
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