Back to the subject - OK - by standards you mean specification type stuff as opposed to measurement standards. I sorta touched on that in the last sentence of my response above but didn't fully understand the question...
You ask yourself the intent of what you're doing (eg. Calibration). The bottom line intent it to ensure your measurement system (QS9000 is now high on the MSA band wagon) is calibrated to a 'standard' so that we all measure the same inch. Method of measurement becomes more important with MSA (as an element - and there are many 'elements' of MSA).
You ask yourself the intent of what you're doing (eg. Calibration) and the intent is to have a defined system with certain characteristics of the system as 'required' and defined by a'spec' (if you will). In this case we have ISO10012, ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994, and MIL-STD-45662A. They each provide some guidelines and have similar, and in same cases the exact same, requirements. They each provide requirements which cause the system to meet the root intent.
I'm going to assume the auditor had simply never had MIL-STD-45662A in his past experience which explains why the auditor was 'fuzzy' about it. This is not unusual.
The last issue is the 'equivalent international standard' where the US has a calibration spec (the old MIL-STD-45662A for example) and say a Brazilian 'equivalent' (I have no idea what Brazil has). As long as they each meet the 'intent', you can use either - technically. Another example that may be closer to home is the ISO9001 standard where it is the same in all countries as far as text goes but is (typically) renamed or renumbered. If you look at ISO9001 in the US it is labeled ANSI/ISO/ASQC Q9001-1994. Canada names it something different. But - they are 'equivalent' standards. So you can use either one as they are, name asides, the same.
Do note that in the QS series, QS is a customer requirement and their MSA (used as an example herein) requirements are beyond 45662A requirements so there is not a match there.
[This message has been edited by Marc Smith (edited 09-30-98).]