🚀 go-pugleaf

In a message dated 8/20/98 15:30:52, you wrote:

<<...my company is a small Tier one supplier to many automobile
manufacturers.  Last year, we received our initial QS-9000 certification.
As many of you are probably familiar, the systems that are built to pass
that first audit are not the most sound or efficient systems a company can
have.  As such, a lot of tweaking occurrs after the auditors leave.  This
leads me to my company's dilemma:  our company issues steel rulers to each
employee to assist them in determining whether or not their production
output meets standards listed in control plans or operational guides.
Under chapter 4.11 of QS-9000, it states all tools that are used to
determine conformance of a product to stated tolerances must be calibrated.
 This means one must calibrate each steel ruler on our manufacturing floor.
 This also means tracking, controlling, and dispositioning over three
hundred rulers!>

Thanks in advance for your assistance

John W. Beemster
Quality Assurance Engineer
Bestop, Incorporated
>

I tend to agree with Dan O'Leary's (doleary@qbe.picker.com) comments.  We had
a different issue.  We used digital caliper, mics, and indicators for
production.  The rule we had was evewry 30 days or one drop.  Each
caliper/indicator/mic had a tag with caliabration date and gage number.  The
meant that we checked over 1000 gauges a month and had a full time employee to
do it.  Is that the best solution for you, I don't think so.

At another company, we used tape measures.  The rule was that before every
shift during the clock in process, you checked you tape on a steel rule.  Now
that company was neither ISO or QS.  So there were no records.  The process
was check the tape, make an adjustment if required or get a new tape form the
supervisor.  This system is similar to Dan's.  I think you will pass id the
rules are verified every day/shift.  The results are recorded.  The check
station is calibrated and has tracibiltiy to national standards.

At a QS company, we had a need to have adjustable gauges to check the drop
heights of parts.  Shims were used to set the checking surfaces.  We did not
place these under calibration.  We placed these under two operator
verification.  Essentially, the gauge is set-up.  The operator then verifies
the set-up with gauges that are calibrated.  He signs the first piece set-up
document.  He then has another  operator or quality Tech verify the gauge and
signs the first piece.  Again this is similar to Dan's process.

I hope this helps

Robert Drensek, CQE, CQA, CRE
Quality Engineer
RNAV@AOL.COM