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Calibration Certificate - Missing Accreditation Mark

Discussion in 'ISO 9001:2015 - Quality Management Systems' started by 7mmdmo7, Apr 2, 2024.

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  1. 7mmdmo7

    7mmdmo7 New Member

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    We recently encountered a Non-Conformance Report (NCR) concerning equipment calibration. The calibration certificate provided by the laboratory did not include an accreditation mark.

    NB/ In other calibration certificat, this lab include the accreditation mark!

    A colleague suggested that if the accreditation mark is absent, we should request traceability documentation from this lab. This documentation would demonstrate the lab's calibration are traceable to national or international measurement standards.
    My question: Is requesting traceability documentation the appropriate approach in this situation?
     
    7mmdmo7, Apr 2, 2024
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  2. Andy Nichols

    Andy Nichols Moderator Staff Member

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    Welcome! Interesting question!

    Can the lab simply replace the certificate with one which bears their accreditation?
     
    Andy Nichols, Apr 2, 2024
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  3. BradM

    BradM Moderator Staff Member

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    Sorry for the dumb question on this…

    Are you certain the lab is accredited?
     
    BradM, Apr 7, 2024
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  4. 7mmdmo7

    7mmdmo7 New Member

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    Accreditation body will to allow this on the base that this kind of calibration is not covered by the domain of accreditation
     
    7mmdmo7, Apr 8, 2024
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  5. 7mmdmo7

    7mmdmo7 New Member

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    Yes, I check the website
     
    7mmdmo7, Apr 8, 2024
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  6. Andy Nichols

    Andy Nichols Moderator Staff Member

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    If the (accredited) lab did work for which they don't hold accreditation, I believe they are required to inform your organization.
     
    Andy Nichols, Apr 8, 2024
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  7. BradM

    BradM Moderator Staff Member

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    Like Andy said they should have notified you prior to the calibration that the calibration wasn’t accredited.

    I would ask them if they have a calibration source that is accredited they could outsource the work.
     
    BradM, Apr 10, 2024
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  8. S1D3K1CK

    S1D3K1CK Active Member

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    When you requested calibration services, did you request accredited calibration on your items to be calibrated or just standard calibration? If they list the items in their scope and state the lab is accredited, you are still required to verify their services are as they say they are and also request accredited calibration during the quote process. I learned the hard way!
     
    S1D3K1CK, Apr 10, 2024
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  9. BradM

    BradM Moderator Staff Member

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    Yea!! I learned that the hard way also. Many of the labs charge a lot more for the accreditation calibration; so for many it's a business move. If you're in a business that just wants a sticker and a piece of paper (hopefully we all know what I'm talking about....) you get the vanilla one. If you really want a decent document with accredited work, you pay a little more.

    Thanks for checking back in by the way.
     
    BradM, Apr 10, 2024
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  10. Andy Nichols

    Andy Nichols Moderator Staff Member

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    Of course, many don't know how to use a "proper" calibration result! All they know is "ISO-Says-So" and think equipment needs calibration, they didn't want to do it, but "ISO-Says-So". They don't want to pay for certification and certainly not for some poxy certificate, "just get the cheap one"...:D
     
    Andy Nichols, Apr 10, 2024
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