In house Calibration? Measurement equipment traceability requirements - ISO9001

dwperron

Trusted Information Resource
#11
The original post stated:
"I have an external auditor telling me all equipment must be calibrated to NIST at an accredited lab..."

Calibrated to NIST means traceability, that was the issue being raised.
The simplest way to assure traceability to NIST is through an accredited lab.

True, it's not just about traceability, but traceability is part of measurement assurance and can't be dismissed.

After all, if you can't trace your measurements then what are you calibrating them to?
 
Elsmar Forum Sponsor
#12
The original post stated:
"I have an external auditor telling me all equipment must be calibrated to NIST at an accredited lab..."

Calibrated to NIST means traceability, that was the issue being raised.
The simplest way to assure traceability to NIST is through an accredited lab.

True, it's not just about traceability, but traceability is part of measurement assurance and can't be dismissed.

After all, if you can't trace your measurements then what are you calibrating them to?
You may be missing the point... Traceability is a component of measurement uncertainty. To suggest traceability - only - and then to not pursue the whole story about how measurement uncertainty provides for the data behind whether the equipment is suitable is typically what ISO auditors do - read the letter of the standard without understanding APPLICATION...
 

dwperron

Trusted Information Resource
#13
Amen Brother, you are preaching to the choir!

I understand how important measurement uncertainty is to having valid results.
I was taking a simplified approach to try to explain what the original auditor was looking for - how can you trust your measurements?

Just saying "I check my tape measure to a gauge block" doesn't cut it. How in depth you need to go will depend on your application, you need to determine what is "significant" to your process. And yes, measurement uncertainty can become very significant.

Another part of my preaching is to shout out to the hilltops "Buyer beware!" I've been involved with (unfortunately) too many cal labs that outright distort and lie about what they provide. After all, "Traceable to NIST" is just toner on paper unless they can back it up. You can ask any lab to give you their traceability tree on a calibration, this is quick work for a good lab. But almost nobody asks, so the shysters can get away with false statements of quality.

That's why I support accredited labs. They aren't perfect, but they make the effort and spend their resources in an effort to provide a higher level of trust in their results.
 
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