Measurement System Audit Checklist (Free, PDF)

0%

0 of 36 items complete

6 critical items still open - these are the highest-risk gaps.

Download checklist:

Identification and control of equipment

Every gage and measuring instrument has a unique ID and is on a master listCRITICALThe master list shows owner, location, range, resolution and calibration intervalEach item carries a calibration status label or is traceable by IDItems that are not required to be calibrated are labeled as reference onlyRetired, damaged or out-of-service gages are segregated and markedPersonally owned or customer-owned gages are included in the programSoftware used for measurement or inspection is validated before use

Calibration and traceability

Calibration is traceable to national or international standards through an unbroken chainCRITICALCalibration providers hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation where the contract requires itCRITICALThe scope of accreditation covers the range and uncertainty neededCertificates state as-found and as-left data, not only pass or failCertificates report measurement uncertainty and the standards usedCalibration intervals are based on usage, stability and history, not set once and forgottenReference standards are calibrated with a better uncertainty than the items they calibrateEnvironmental conditions required for calibration are recordedNo gage is used past its due date without a documented release

Out-of-tolerance handling

A procedure defines what happens when a gage is found out of toleranceCRITICALAn impact review looks back at product measured since the last good calibrationCRITICALCustomers are notified where suspect product may have shippedCorrective action addresses the cause, such as wear, handling or intervalTrends of out-of-tolerance findings per gage type are reviewedAdjustments to gages are controlled so that calibration settings are protected from tampering

MSA studies and use of data

Gages used for control plan characteristics have a current MSA studyCRITICALStudies use parts that span the real process variation%GRR, ndc and acceptance criteria are recorded against customer requirementsAttribute gages have an agreement study with kappa or equivalentBias, linearity and stability are assessed where relevantStudies are repeated after a gage change, repair or a process changeThe control plan references the gage used for each characteristicOperators are trained on the measurement method, with records

Handling, storage and records

Gages are stored in a clean, controlled place, protected from damage and corrosionHandling instructions exist for delicate or temperature-sensitive instrumentsCalibration records are retained according to the retention policy and contractCalibration data is backed up and access is controlledThe calibration schedule is reviewed regularly for overdue itemsManagement reviews calibration performance, including on-time rate

Critical items should all be met. Count the proportion of items met in each group. Any critical item not met is a finding. Adjust the list to match your standard and customer requirements.

Get a second pair of eyes on your gage control

Optional: an expert review of how your calibration data is stored and surfaced in your ERP.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

How to use it

Walk the floor with the checklist in hand. Pick a sample of gages from the master list and trace each to its label, its certificate and its last record. Then pick a few characteristics from a control plan and trace them to the gage and the MSA study. Tick items as met, and record notes for each finding. Export to PDF or Excel for the audit report.

What the standards expect

ISO 9001 clause 7.1.5 requires monitoring and measuring resources to be suitable, calibrated or verified, traceable and protected. AS9100 adds requirements on recall and impact assessment. IATF 16949 asks for MSA on all gage types in the control plan and for a calibration records set including as-received data. Customer-specific requirements often add details.

Reading the results

A pattern of missing as-found data usually means the calibration provider is not reporting it or the shop is not asking for it. A pattern of overdue gages points to a scheduling or ownership problem. A strong program has no gages in use past due, an impact process that is actually run and MSA that matches the control plan.

Common audit findings

Frequent findings include gages without IDs, certificates lacking uncertainty, intervals never adjusted, no out-of-tolerance review, and MSA done once at launch and never updated. Using this checklist before the audit gives you time to close them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this replace the standard?

No. It is a working aid built around common expectations in ISO 9001, AS9100 and IATF 16949. Always audit against the exact clauses, edition and customer requirements that apply to you.

How often should I audit calibration?

Many organisations include it in the annual internal audit plan, with extra checks on critical gages and a monthly review of overdue items. Risk and past findings should drive the frequency.

What is an impact review?

When a gage is found out of tolerance, you review product measured with it since the last good calibration to decide whether any of it could be nonconforming, and act on that, including customer notification if needed.

Should every instrument be calibrated?

No. Items used only for reference or indication can be excluded if the rule is documented and they are clearly labeled. Anything used to accept product or control a process should be in the program.

If your calibration and gage data sits outside the ERP, we can help connect it so due dates and status are visible where planners and inspectors work.

Talk to an Expert Explore More Free Tools

Related Tools

Quality & Inspection

More Quality & Inspection tools

See all

Measurement System and Calibration Audit Checklist