Hey all. I am thinking about changing up our gauge identification schema but would like to know what others in the field may be doing and how you manage your gauge identifications. Specifically with measurement systems as a whole, but also individual gauge IDs. We have a prefix number for each gauge type, and the second number is sequential meaning the next one in line, and then the 3rd digit indicates production or quality ownership. This could mean we can have something like "80-194-M" where 80 indicates a dial/digital indicator, 194 is the number, and then M would indicate that it belongs to manufacturing. Where this has been an issue in the past is:
Do you go into more detail with the ID number to get more identifying characteristics? I have seen some numbers that are like...AE001E51B380 where each digit or set of digits identifies more about the gauge as a whole. What are some of your methods?
- What if the indicator is attached to another gauge, such as a variable gauge? Do we keep a record in our system of the individual indicator (80-194-M) AND the other gauge separate so the calibration test points can be separated?
- Do you then have to create an additional record to count them both as a measurement system where you can assign uncertainty and MSAs studies and such? Or do you combine the entire system under 1 number and just have the test points for the indicator AND any other test points for the other measuring devices on that assembly?
- I would assume you would have to have separate records because if the indicator breaks, you have to replace it but you probably shouldnt give a new indicator the same ID number as the previous or it could mess up your traceability, no?
- We've had issues where that individual indicator may have had the MSA for that family tied to it, but then the indicator breaks and gets deactivated. Since there is no trigger to move the MSA schedule to another indicator, it could come up in an audit that you dont have an MSA for that and you find out its because that individual gauge was deactivated.
- To combat this, we started creating an additional individual record (such as (80-000-M) that would cover a family of indicators and it wouldnt have a calibration schedule, only MSA. How do others do this?
Do you go into more detail with the ID number to get more identifying characteristics? I have seen some numbers that are like...AE001E51B380 where each digit or set of digits identifies more about the gauge as a whole. What are some of your methods?
