Re: Must a vernier caliper and a rule be calibrated?
The auditor or the auditee's shoes?
Both seem to be acting a little childish.
Write it up and continue.
I think the question of should I calibrate this or that is step 3.
Step 1 is what do I need to measure? What tool do I need to do the job?
Step 2 is determining how important/critical the readings are, and what is the impact if they are off?
Then, I would surmise whether the dimensional item should be verified or not.
I agree that any piece of equipment used to "accept" product must be calibrated. Records of this calibration activity must be able to be retrieved as well.
...I remember a "story" I heard once of an auditor who wanted to see the calibration records for a 6inch metal rule he found on top of a mylar complete with part. The QA manager argued the rule was calibrated at the manufacturer and didn't need an independent calibration to be performed. Auditor disagreement ensured
So... the QA manager called the President of the rule manufacturer (quite a large company too who are well known for supplying measurement equip all over the world) at 3am local time and passed the phone to the auditor who promptly got an earful for even suggesting the rule was "out of calibration" and he'd be sued for liable if he took the matter further....
what do you think the auditor did then? ... what would you do in his shoes?
...I remember a "story" I heard once of an auditor who wanted to see the calibration records for a 6inch metal rule he found on top of a mylar complete with part. The QA manager argued the rule was calibrated at the manufacturer and didn't need an independent calibration to be performed. Auditor disagreement ensured
So... the QA manager called the President of the rule manufacturer (quite a large company too who are well known for supplying measurement equip all over the world) at 3am local time and passed the phone to the auditor who promptly got an earful for even suggesting the rule was "out of calibration" and he'd be sued for liable if he took the matter further....
what do you think the auditor did then? ... what would you do in his shoes?
I think the question of should I calibrate this or that is step 3.
Step 1 is what do I need to measure? What tool do I need to do the job?
Step 2 is determining how important/critical the readings are, and what is the impact if they are off?
Then, I would surmise whether the dimensional item should be verified or not.