Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage?

T

Tiger24

#11
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

I certainly will, again thanks
 
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#12
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

I am familiar with a practice where we had two sets of high precision gauge blocks. We always had one set calibrated, quarantined, well preserved and locked up while the other set was in use. When other set was due for calibration, it was sent out and the "shelf" set was put into the service. The old "in use" came back from calibration and was put on the shelf until needed.

These sets would sit on the shelf for about 5 months between calibration and first use. This practice was acceptable to all of our aerospace customers.
 
P

Phil Fields

#13
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

The whole thing about ISO 9001 is it outlines broad principles but leaves the details to you! :agree1:

Taking your example. ISO doesn't know how you are going to use your oscilloscopes etc but you do. Calibration looks at a piece of equipment and checks it against a standard to see if it is still accurate. When you are looking at when and how to calibrate you consider whether the piece of equipment changes with use or over time (Some items drift), IF you are happy that the equipment only changes with use then 'delaying' the start of a cakibration period is fine if it is in storage. If it drifts over time then no, it isn't. If you need any help contact your equipment manufacturer.
This sounds good and logical, but be careful that you procedure does not lock you into a process that does not allow this. When delaying the start of the calibration period you may need a documented justification.

Phil
 
G

Geonerd

#14
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

Hi, all.

Let me ask a parallel question. "Is it allowable to alter or ignore the Cal-Due date found on an MTE's formal Cal Cert?" At my company, management considers the Cal Cert Date to be holy.

Will seeing an altered (but initialed and dated!) Cal date set off alarms in an Auditor's brain? What justification for the change will he expect to hear?

Defered Cal is hairy dog, but will save us a ton of money. I'm working up a case to present to management and would appreciate feedback from those who have gone this route.

Thanks
 

Jim Wynne

Staff member
Admin
#15
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

Hi, all.

Let me ask a parallel question. "Is it allowable to alter or ignore the Cal-Due date found on an MTE's formal Cal Cert?" At my company, management considers the Cal Cert Date to be holy.

Will seeing an altered (but initialed and dated!) Cal date set off alarms in an Auditor's brain? What justification for the change will he expect to hear?

Defered Cal is hairy dog, but will save us a ton of money. I'm working up a case to present to management and would appreciate feedback from those who have gone this route.

Thanks
I'm assuming that you're referring to certs from an outside calibration lab. If that's the case, you should feel free to adjust the intervals to suit your needs. You can ask the lab(s) to use the dates of your choice, or you can document your process for determining calibration intervals (which you should be able to reasonably justify) and then stick to it.
 

Big Jim

Super Moderator
#16
My understanding of ISO 17025 (the standard for calibration labs) is that the calibration company cannot dictate a cal due date. At most they can respond to your request for guidance about a due date is "this it what we see for others with similar circumstances".

You get to determine the due date, but it has to make sense.

The only guidance I can see for setting a calibration due date from either ISO 9001:2008 or AS9100 (either B or C) is from the portion shortly after the lettered elements (a, b, c, etc) that says: "In addition, the organization shall assess and record the validity of the previous measuring results when the equipment is found not to conform to requirements. The organization shall take appropriate action on the equipment and any product affected."

You want to do your best to avoid that situation, so the calibration frequency should be often enough to avoid it.

On the other end, doing it too frequently, there is not guidance. My personal thought is that it should not be so often as to be a burden as long as it is often enough to prevent possible recalls.
 
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J
#17
Re: Can you defer a calibration start date on equipment which is in storage

Hi, all.

Let me ask a parallel question. "Is it allowable to alter or ignore the Cal-Due date found on an MTE's formal Cal Cert?" At my company, management considers the Cal Cert Date to be holy.

Will seeing an altered (but initialed and dated!) Cal date set off alarms in an Auditor's brain? What justification for the change will he expect to hear?

Defered Cal is hairy dog, but will save us a ton of money. I'm working up a case to present to management and would appreciate feedback from those who have gone this route.

Thanks
As long as you rdocumentation makes allowance for it I never hada problem with it either. We had a set of gage blocks that I used for calibration checks. Because it was used only for this purpose and no other I determined (after two cal cycles) that an annual checks of the blocks was not necessary. However the cal lab routinely put a one year cal due date on the box.
I simply changed my calibration instructions so that I would review the cert agains the previous cert and so long as I was satisfied that there was no significant wear, the next cal date could be extended. I then simply put my own cal sticker on the box over the outside service sticker and files the reports. No question owas ever raised about it.

So basically the justification is that, upon review of previous reports and known usage, the calibration cycle can safely be extended.....

Peace
James
 
E

EMacP

#18
:bigwave:Hi there. I've recently come across some equipment (oscilloscopes, verniers, DDM, etc) stored in an uncontrolled (atmosphere) area at work.
The equipment is labled 'calibration date to start when next used'.
ie annually calibrated May 2008, is in storage until July 2008, cal due date re-defined to July 2009
Surely this is unacceptable?
If the equipment is externally annually calibrated May 2008, then the cal due date remains at May 2009!?
I'm due an audit soon & am after some solid evidence, but have been unable to find any within ISO 9001:2008.:frust:
As a laboratory that is constantly being audited, I will like to raise some questions to you on your equipment that you mention above.

1. How do you know that your unit from the time it is stored till the point you are going to use them will have stable measurement results?

2. How can you guarantee that your unit does not have drift?

3. What trending evidence can you prove that your measurements have been consistence? If you can answer the above questions, then you will able to go through your audit with not prob. ISO 9001:2009 guideline is insufficient.

Sending a unit for calibration at a recommended calibration interval assure the the equipment is in good health and proven adequate stability and not impaired.
 
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