Supervision of measuring equipment by accredited laboratories: a quality system element

Modern industrial production is characterized by an increasing complexity of products and manufacturing procedures and, in addition, by an international division of labour. This has led to the development of quality management systems with the aim of avoiding faulty products and faults in the production at each stage, from the design to the delivery of a product. A certified quality management system according to ISO 9000 strengthens the position of a company on the national and international markets and guarantees the purchaser that the products of a company have been manufactured in compliance with the company´s quality policy. One important element of a quality system is the handling of measuring, test and inspection equipment which is used in production and for quality control. This element is also an indispensable part of all ISO 9000 standards. The regular calibration of measuring instruments and the supervision of measuring equipment are necessary prerequisites for reliable measurements and therefore strongly influence product quality. This close interdependence between metrology and quality management is reflected in the ISO 9000 series which requires that the measuring equipment is calibrated in a way that ensures traceability to national standards of measurement. The main reasons for the establishment of “Deutscher Kalibrierdienst”-the German national accreditation body for calibration laboratories, are outlined and international co-operation in calibration and testing are discussed