# Inspection Station Audit Checklist > Source: https://netray.co/tools/inspection-station-audit-checklist > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Audit an incoming, in process or final inspection station for gauges, calibration, environment, documentation and nonconforming material control. ## Category quality ## Audience - Quality manager - Quality auditor - Quality inspector ## Tool **Kind:** checklist **Groups:** #### Instruments and gauges **Items:** **Text:** Every gauge at the station has a unique ID and calibration label **Critical:** true **Text:** No gauge is past its calibration due date **Critical:** true Gauge resolution is suitable for the tolerance being checked Gauges are clean, undamaged and stored in protective cases **Text:** Master or setting standards are available and in date **Critical:** true Out of tolerance finds are reported and past results reviewed Measurement method for each characteristic is defined Gage R&R or measurement system analysis exists for key characteristics #### Documents and records **Items:** **Text:** Current drawing revision is available at the station **Critical:** true **Text:** Inspection instruction or plan is current and controlled **Critical:** true Sampling plan and accept numbers are posted or on the plan Inspection results are recorded at the time of inspection **Text:** Records show inspector identity and date **Critical:** true Obsolete documents are removed from the area Certificates and test reports are checked against the order Inspector training or authorization records are available #### Environment and set up **Items:** Lighting suits the visual inspection task Surface plate or bench is clean, level and free of damage Temperature is suitable for precision measurement Limit samples or boundary photos are available for visual defects Tools, magnifiers and fixtures are in place and labeled ESD controls are in place where static sensitive items are handled The area is clean and organised, with no food or drink #### Material control **Items:** **Text:** Material awaiting inspection is separated and labeled **Critical:** true **Text:** Accepted, rejected and on hold areas are clearly marked **Critical:** true Rejected material is tagged and logged in the system **Text:** Lot or batch identity is maintained throughout inspection **Critical:** true Samples are drawn randomly across the lot Inspected material is released in the ERP only after the usage decision Retained samples and returned goods are controlled #### Process discipline **Items:** Inspectors know how to classify critical, major and minor defects Escalation route for disputes or borderline parts is defined Nonconformances trigger a notice or report to the right owner Trends of repeated defects are reviewed regularly Previous audit findings were closed with evidence **Scoring Note:** Treat any failed critical item as a stop and fix finding before the next shift. Record the evidence, owner and due date for every failed item. Re audit within 30 days to confirm closure. ## Content **Intro:** Inspection decisions are only as reliable as the station they come from. This checklist covers instruments, records, environment and material control so you can audit any inspection area in about twenty minutes. **Sections:** #### How to use it **Body:** Walk the station with the checklist and tick each item only when you have seen evidence, not when someone tells you it is fine. Pull a gauge and check its label, open the current inspection record, and look at where rejected parts are placed. Mark failures with a note, an owner and a due date. Repeat monthly or as part of a layered process audit, rotating among stations and shifts. #### What good looks like **Body:** A good station has calibrated and suitable gauges, a current drawing and plan, clean and clear segregation of material and records created at the time of inspection. The requirements align with ISO 9001 clause 7.1.5 on monitoring and measuring resources and the control of nonconforming outputs. Customers such as aerospace primes may add their own requirements, which you should add to the checklist. **Bullets:** - Evidence over assertions - Calibration status visible on the gauge - Rejected material physically segregated - Results recorded, not remembered #### Common mistakes **Body:** Auditing only paperwork, ignoring personal or borrowed gauges that are not in the calibration system, and letting uncontrolled printouts of drawings accumulate. Also check that ERP stock status matches the physical status, since material that is physically rejected but still available in the system is a common escape route. **Cta:** If audit findings and calibration status sit in separate files, Netray can help connect them to ERP inspection and asset records. **Faq:** #### How often should an inspection station be audited? **Answer:** Monthly is common for critical stations and quarterly for others. Increase frequency after a quality escape or when staff or equipment change. Rotate the day and shift to catch differences. #### Does this checklist meet an AS9100 or ISO 9001 requirement? **Answer:** It supports the intent of controls on measuring resources, documented information and nonconforming outputs, but it does not by itself demonstrate compliance. Align it with your own procedures and customer requirements. #### What if a gauge is found out of calibration? **Answer:** Remove it from use, tag it and assess the validity of earlier measurements. Review products inspected since the last good calibration and take action as your procedure requires, including customer notice where applicable. #### Who should perform the audit? **Answer:** Someone independent of the station's daily work, such as a quality engineer or supervisor from another area. Independence helps catch habits that insiders no longer notice. ## Search terms inspection station audit checklist, quality inspection area audit, inspection area 5S checklist, gauge control audit checklist, inspection station setup, layered process audit inspection, incoming inspection area checklist, inspection process audit --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json