posted 28 October 1998 07:55 AM               

From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Q: Certificate of Calibration/Guerra/Naish

I am surprised that you would get a non conformance when it comes from the manufacturer. I have worked with a number of companies and at least 9 registrars who have not given any of the 75 companies we have worked with a non conformance for this.

As far as an accredited lab versus a manufacturer being better, there are good and bad in both. But some manaufacturers such as Starrett are accredited by Navlab here in the USA.

When approaching the amount of imformation that is required, if you get a copy of quide 25 it is easy to understand and helps with knowing what is needed for calibration. However, another approach is to obtain a copy of the ISO certificate from the manufacturer as well as any other certification they have. If you have an internal supplier qualification form have them complete it as well. The using the supplier qualification process and history from previous performance (as demonstrarted the first time you sent the equipment out for calibration or the hard data sent by them) you can place them on a dock to stock plan with their certificate of conformance along with their catalogue or data sheet as meeting the requirement until you send it out the first time for calibration.

The uncertainty of the instrument is based upon the catalogue or data sheet which will tell you it is within a tolerance. As long as that tolerance provides you with the accuracy you need, and they have provided a certificate of assurance that they have met it and that it meetss international standards you should be able to pass your audit. If you ask for them you can sometimes get a copy of the procedures used by the manufacturer so as to show your registrar the method the manufacturer is using.

I can also send you a sheet with the information that you should be seeing on the certificate after you send it out. You can email me direct if you would like a copy.