Certificate for In-House Calibration

BradM

Staff member
Admin
#1
A poster had asked some questions regarding in-house calibrations, and I inadvertantly deteled the post. Sorry!:eek:

Anyway, it was a pretty good question, so I figured it would build our BOK here at the Cove. I am going from memory, here, so I may have missed a few things here and there.
*******
This particular facility performed in-house calibration using gauge blocks that are calibrated by an external source. There are several micrometers, calipers, etc. that are verified. Questions:

1. Do these instruments require a certificate of calibration?
2. What information is required on the certificate of calibrations?
2. Do the measurement uncertainties need to be listed?

If I remember correctly, the poster was nearing an external ISO 9001 audti, and was worried about getting an NCI for the calibration.

Your thougths and suggestions, please.
 
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BradM

Staff member
Admin
#2
IMO, if you are performing calibration/verifications, they should be documented. I would think you need to have a certificate of calibration. This would list the calibration date, possibly due date, standards used (and their relevant information like due date ID#), procedure, data, who performed the calibration, and possibly a reviewer (if that is required).

As far as listing the uncertainty, I would expect that an analysis has already been performed, and that information can be put on the certificate. If no analysis has occurred, minimally I would think the accuracy rating of the gauge blocks and the required instrument accuracy should be listed on the certificate. You will want to assure you at least have a 4 to 1 ratio for accuracy.

Also, the as-found as-left data should be recorded. I'm not sure about any of the other Covers, but a certificate of calibration without any data just seems of such little value.

Finally, you will want to list the environmental conditions on the certificate, if they could impact the measurements. I would think for gauge blocks, they could affect the readings. Thus, temperature and humidity should be monitored.

Whatever you put on the certificate, I would not put anything on there you are not familar with, or that you don't understand.

Anyone else with some feedback on in-house certificates of calibration?
 
M

madannc

#3
My thoughts

#1 No but a record of them being checked with the calibrated blocks (which do require COC) is required

#2 The blocks COC should they have been tested to traceable standards and each block must be uniquely identified and a calibration schedule/frequency established, and an expiry date for COC. The record that is used internally will have schedule for checking calibrators (either one sheet for all that has column for equip no. or one record for each peice of equip which ever is easiest to manage) and which block was used to check equipment.

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of times our breath is taken away"

#3 Not sure what the question is asking? tolerances will be recorded as in an acceptable std e.g. between 0.0001 and 0.0005 is acceptable tolerence and the the block's actual will be recorded e.g 0.0002
 
Last edited by a moderator:

BradM

Staff member
Admin
#4
#3 Not sure what the question is asking? tolerances will be recorded as in an acceptable std e.g. between 0.0001 and 0.0005 is acceptable tolerence and the the block's actual will be recorded e.g 0.0002
Great response, BTW. I hope to see you contributing to the Cove more.

I believe the gauge blocks are calibrated by an external lab.

The original poster was inquiring about what information should go on a certificate of calibration. So for example, would you put the measurement uncertainty, standard accuracy, U.U.T., accuracy, etc.?
 
E

Esthyl - 2010

#5
Hi Brad,

Thanks for your suggestions! FYI, I am the one who put up the poster :)

The questions stated are quite close to mine though. Additional is:
How could I justify whether the calibrated inspection instruments passed or failed? Referring to the std, eg. BS 870:1950 (for outside micrometer)? Micrometers, digital calipers and height master that we have can be reset / adjusted to zero.

Madannc, thanks for your suggestions as well! By the way, is COC means Certificate of Calibration?

Q#3 --> I would like to know if I am suppose to include uncertainty of measurement into the In-house calibration cert (as certificate of calibration by ext. agency did); so that the cert is reliable. However, what would be the tolerance? Is there any thumb of rule?

I would like to improve on the in-house cert of cal. Hopefully anyone who has experience in dealing with in-house calibration is willing to share with me. Thanks....
 

BradM

Staff member
Admin
#6
Hi Brad,

Thanks for your suggestions! FYI, I am the one who put up the poster :)
I'm glad you checked back in and found the new thread. I'm sorry about shooting away your other one. I learned what I did wrong, and won't do that anymore.:whip:


How could I justify whether the calibrated inspection instruments passed or failed? Referring to the std, eg. BS 870:1950 (for outside micrometer)? Micrometers, digital calipers and height master that we have can be reset / adjusted to zero.
I'm not sure if I follow you on this one. Are you asking how you determine if the device has passed or failed? Yes, some instruments can be set to zero, and usually that is considered part of the calibration adjustment. However, micrometers and calipers are a bit different. Zero adjustment is commonplace and enabled for the user. Saying, the device will need to be zeroed before reading gauge blocks (just as you would zero before reading material). Then, either by mfg. specifications, customers specifications, or other, you will determine the accuracy of the device and if it passes or fails.

Q#3 --> I would like to know if I am suppose to include uncertainty of measurement into the In-house calibration cert (as certificate of calibration by ext. agency did); so that the cert is reliable. However, what would be the tolerance? Is there any thumb of rule?
Either you have performed uncertainty analysis or you haven't. If you have, then that information would be relevant, and should go on the certificate of calibration. If you haven't, then you won't have that information to place on the certificate.

Have you performed a gauge R&R? Are you sure what your capabilities are? What class of gauge blocks do you have?

Do you have a environmentally controlled lab to perform these calibrations? I'm just seeing how far along you are in all of this.
 
M

madannc

#7
Hi Brad,

Thanks for your suggestions! FYI, I am the one who put up the poster :)

The questions stated are quite close to mine though. Additional is:
How could I justify whether the calibrated inspection instruments passed or failed? Referring to the std, eg. BS 870:1950 (for outside micrometer)? Micrometers, digital calipers and height master that we have can be reset / adjusted to zero.

Madannc, thanks for your suggestions as well! By the way, is COC means Certificate of Calibration?

Q#3 --> I would like to know if I am suppose to include uncertainty of measurement into the In-house calibration cert (as certificate of calibration by ext. agency did); so that the cert is reliable. However, what would be the tolerance? Is there any thumb of rule?

I would like to improve on the in-house cert of cal. Hopefully anyone who has experience in dealing with in-house calibration is willing to share with me. Thanks....
Apa Kaba Esthyl

COC = Certificate of Calibration (just me being lazy)

When you say in house calibration be clear about what you are doing, checking the micrometers with a calibrated standard is just that confirming that the micrometer is within the tolerences acceptable. Calibration is altering or modifying internal settings to be a calibrated std. in the case you are describing I think you are just checking the equipment is acceptable... if it did not meet your acceptance level presumably you would send off for repair or buy a new one?

A calibrated std such as the blocks is used to provide objective evidence that the equipment (micrometers) you are using are acceptable... in other words you use the micrometer to perfom checks on devices you make and have confidence that the measurements taken by the micrometer are valid.

You are not using the micrometer as a calibrated std but as a tool to perform a job.
 

Hershal

Metrologist-Auditor
Staff member
Super Moderator
#8
Actually, calibration is a comparison that is traceable to National or international standards.....a perfect calibration does not involve adjustment at all.....

However, even for internal cal, if you want it to be traceable, it must include the specific documeted path for traceability (e.g., the certificate number of the gage block calibration - NOT the so-called NIST numbers), and the uncertainty. Miss either of the two and the calibration is not traceable, and simply becomes verification.

Hope this helps.
 
E

Esthyl - 2010

#9
Hi BradM & Madannc, thanks for your suggestions for carrying out in-house calibration and COC. Meanwhile, I have asked a ISO consultant for opinion on the In-house calibration and COC. She came back to me that we can have in-house calibration, but we cannot produce COC as we are not SAMM certified. In-house calibration merely means those MMDs are VERIFIED

FYI, our company is implementing ISO 9001:2000 QMS. My concern is --> is it all MMDs in the factory should be calibrated? Our company is small with around 10 ppl, we can't afford to send out all MMDs for calibration and have another spare set while MMDs sent out for calibration; we do in-house calibration. On the other hand, we sent only all MMDs used by QC Technician for external calibration.

Is this approach acceptable for ISO 9001:2000 QMS?
 

BradM

Staff member
Admin
#10
I am intrigued by this SAMM. Can you give me a little more information?

Hershal is one of the foremost experts (IMHO) on calibration. Let me encourage you to go to him name, and search through his last 100 or so posts. It will really be beneficial to you.

Most everyone else here is quite good too (except me, I'm just their agent:tg:). You have an appropriate standard, a decent procedure, the right numbers... You have a calibration. I hope you know what I mean. I just want to suggest a middle ground, reasonable approach. Calibration (and CoC) is not something everyone can do, and not something too difficult for anybody. Make sense.

As far as ISO 9001 is concern, the system is yours to decide. Basically, if it is an instrument utilized for impact, quality decision, measurement, etc., it will need a verification/ calibration, etc. to determine fitness for use. You will need to establish a program to ensure the equipment is adequately calibrated, and fit for use.

Please, I don't mean to come across too strong, so forgive me if it does. But... if you're company cannot afford a good calibration program, it needs to re-evaluate being in business (or at least going into an ISO initiative). If you are MFG. a product and you have instruments for quality assessment, IMO it's pretty important that they be accurate.

How many instruments are we talking about, and of what kind? I bet if you added it all up, you would save money sending it out for calibration. So I don't bore you do death, search on the Cove for internal calibration, and you'll find some detailed analysis by several people here.

Ok, enough of my rambling. I hope there's something here to help you.
 
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