posted 13 April 2001 04:59 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Patti:
I have been tasked with bringing our labs on site up to speed to the QS-9000 requirements. The internal qualifications are not a problem, the problems lie in accreditation of labs we use in addition to our own. If you could please answer the following questions or direct me to where I could find additional information I would be very grateful.

If I have this correct, QS-9000 requires that all external labs used for analysis and calibration must be Guide 17025 certified or equivalent.

-Yes

What other National Equivalents. Would EPA, FDA certification be ok?

-Do you want the FDA/EPA to calibrate your CMM?

What can a company do if the external labs they are currently using are not 17025 certified and:
Is the only lab that can perform the required analysis

-Don't use them. Tough road, why aren't they certified. You can use the gage supplier to calibrate your gages, under circumstancs outlined in QS-9000 3rd edition.

Is the closest lab to the company and provides the best turnaround time to meet internal/external customer needs Is the most cost effective choice for the company

-Do you think the customer (SQA) really cares cares about your cost?

What is the protocol for non-certified labs?

-Don't use them.

Can we perform an audit on their quality systems and approve them for use?

- Sure, will your customer buy in???

If so, is there a guideline/checklist that we can use that will satisfied QS9000 requirements?

-Not to my knowledge, try A2LA.

Can we request our customers to waive the accreditation requirement?

-Yes, will you get it? I dont know, I'd like my customer to waive the QS-9000 requirements for customer satisfaction. QS is a set of standards with very few "outs".

Does this include everything sent outside the company or can we define what is required to be sent to accredited labs?

-Why would you (your company) put youself in a position where you are using labs that might not be up to snuff?

Cost?

Thanks

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