Cutoff - Discussion regarding a reasonable break-even point for calibration

Hershal

Metrologist-Auditor
Staff member
Super Moderator
#1
We have seen numerous questions over the last couple of years - and rightly so I think - regarding internal calibration.....so I suggest a discussion regarding a reasonable break-even point for calibration.....based on experience, and certainly welcoming and encouraging different views.....

For me, if an organization has approximately 300+ items of a similar nature (e.g. calipers) then the break-even has been achieved to justify addition of a metrology professional (e.g. calibration technician) to perform the calibration.....or if at approximatley 1000+ items of a very dissimilar nature then justify a metrology professional (e.g. Metrologist) to manage the metrology program, ESPECIALLY if multiple sites are involved.....

But then.....I take this view.....metrology, like quality (a close cousin, but not the same), requires a dedicated professional to go to the next level.....and like quality may well be perceived as "anyone can do this".....

I invite and encourage all views, same or opposing.....this is meant to be an on-going discussion, hence having no specific end.....

Hershal
 
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Jerry Eldred

Forum Moderator
Super Moderator
#2
Let me begin with a brief digression....

I was laid off from my 10 years with Motorola/Freescale as of Dec 2nd. I am in process of seeking other employment, and have an interview scheduled in the Boston area to manage a pretty large lab, and possible assistant to national manager. So hopefully, I'll be settled into a new position soon. Meanwhile, I'll be a little sporadic on the board here.

I don't disagree with your posting, Hershal. My initial thoughts are more dollar-specific. Using the calibration of Calipers as an example, and a population of 300 (one cal per year), I would have the following thoughts:

1. Derive a dollar quote for the external cal costs. If, for fictitious example, it cost $60/unit, that would equate to $18K/year cost to send them all out, plus manhours cost to support that function, plus manhours cost to maintain database, certificate files,etc.

2. The justification to cal inhouse would be a little "analogue", in that you may not have enough to justify hiring a person, but perhaps an appropriately skilled person already on staff could be properly trained, and cover this requirement as an add-on to his/her duties.

3. In the case of a larger or more complex scenario, the justification to hire a person would need to be based on:
1. Annual Salary/benefits (this can vary a lot depending on what type of calibrations are to be done. An RF/microwave cal tech is higher salary than a person to calibrate calipers and basic dimensional units).
2. Annual capital costs for standards
3. Annual facility cost for a lab area
4. Annual cal costs for sending standards out for cal.
5. All the above in comparison with annual cost to send everything out.

In my experience, I've always estimated between 500 and 1000 units to justify in in-house calibration person (depending on the mixture). I have started up and operated a couple of one-person labs, so I have direct experience in this area.
 
K

Ken K

#3
Gee...what about us testing types:rolleyes: Don't we count:lol:



We went through an exercise a couple years ago to try and justify the cost of keeping our internal lab together. At first it seemed like a rather simple comparison of internal costs vs outside costs, but about two weeks into it we realized it would be a rather complex study.

The final report really surprised our plant manager and also my boss. The lab staff was virtually working for free. The outside costs for testing was a figure nobody was expecting and because of it I am still employed. So is the rest of the staff.

And considering whatever happens with C&A, we could add a couple more people to the staff to handle the increased work load.:agree1:
 
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