Jennifer, I was one of the lab auditors on at least some of the audits and I didn't catch it - didn't dig deeply enough, something to consider in future positions.
It's been awhile since I audited the lab, so the equipment might have been OK during my audits. Members of our Tech Center have apparently known several of the failings, but never brought their concerns to the appropriate level of attention. Since taking this position they have mentioned them to me.
The Tech Center manager also audited the lab and never identified/found the issues. I've had to calibrate equipment, and have gone back over old calibration records for instruments such as micrometers - it's apparent that the prior position holder didn't even have a good idea of calibration - you don't calibrate a micrometer and get 5 readings of 0.25000" for a .25000" gage block, you "dance around the true value". But somehow he managed to do get those 5 identical readings for all gage blocks checked for all micrometers, same for analytical balances, and some other instruments.
I'm not certain the issues would have been welcomed by our quality system anyway - we have real issues correcting/clearing nonconformances. But, we do have our quality system certificates to ISO/TS, ISO 9001-2000, etc.
