16 replies to this topic

[gupta_akhil84@yahoo.co.in]

Request to help me for any standard in which it is mentioned that Metal detector (CCP) shall be calibrated by external agency and about the frequency for calibration?

Thank

[Scampi]

I do not know about Indian Law, but in Canada, the UK and the USA, they MUST be calibrated formally once/year 

 

Then you should have some sort of weights so you can check them daily/weekly in house for verification

[SQFconsultant]

Like Scampi said - formal.

 

Formal, however does not always mean that you must go external.

 

If your PM person is trained in calibration (and you can prove that) your company should be able to carry this out in-house, however - biggie - check with local authority.

[Scampi]

We have to always remember that there is usually another set of laws that governs scales

 

In Canada, it's Weights and Measures Canada----they require a CERTIFIED person calibrate scales that are used in commerce. So like Glenn said, check the law of the land where your products will be made/sold

[MsMars]

Metal detectors don't have as much of a stringent requirement as scales in terms of requiring state/local certified personnel.  Check them daily (or more frequently depending on your process and hazard analysis), prove that you or someone on your staff is trained to calibrate them (by the metal detector company, perhaps?) and you could possibly perform internally. Or just have the manufacturer come on site and complete once yearly or however often is recommended or necessary depending on your machine and your process.

[Scampi]

We have to always remember that there is usually another set of laws that governs scales

 

In Canada, it's Weights and Measures Canada----they require a CERTIFIED person calibrate scales that are used in commerce. So like Glenn said, check the law of the land where your products will be made/sold

 

Sorry Gupta for the confusion---my brain is apprently still on Sunday time..............my statement above does not apply to the metal detector

[012117]

However, what is being "calibrated" in metal detector? In some operations manual, the term "caibrate" is also referred to as your equipment is trying to learn the product that is passed thru it. If there are no changes,then the validation or repeated functional check should suffice.

As stated by Glenn, if the personnel are trained they can perform this. But if on occasion the functionality test fails (usually 30 for statistics) or you always change your metal detector settings, then it is better to source out servicing to external party to do some EMI checks.

[Charles.C]

Calibration is a much interpreted term as frequently discussed on this forum,

 

Seems the FS Standard of OP is unknown but BRC considers that if reference is being made to the usage of test metal spheres, a more appropriate  terminology is sensitivity.

 

Similar comment with regard to "frequency"

[Krishna Ambilwade]

In our last audit, auditor asked me how do you validate (she was looking for external agency/manufacturer or some kind of certificate issued) metal detector.

We do our calibrations/re-calibration thrice a day while packaging. I don't understand how to do validation studies in-house (does anyone have some specific procedures or template ?)

[FSQA]

In our last audit, auditor asked me how do you validate (she was looking for external agency/manufacturer or some kind of certificate issued) metal detector.

We do our calibrations/re-calibration thrice a day while packaging. I don't understand how to do validation studies in-house (does anyone have some specific procedures or template ?)

Krishna,

 

As mentioned in the above posts, per law you will need to get it validated once a year by a formal/certified personnel or company. If you have someone certified within your facility/company, you will satisfy the requirement. However, if not, you will need to ask a "Certified" personnel/company and to validate it once a year to satisfy the regulation.

 

Hope it helps.

[Scampi]

I think you've gotten some terminology confused

 

Validated----this is only done once (preferably before metal detector is even paid for)------will the unit be capable of detecting the nesaccary metals at the required frequency to control the hazard

 

Verify---daily/weekly QA check (usually QA but not always) to verify detector is working as per SOP

 

CCP Monitoring ---the operational checks of the metal detector based on the # units passing through it hourly/daily etc

 

No validation study was performed prior to implementation???

[Krishna Ambilwade]

I think you've gotten some terminology confused

 

Validated----this is only done once (preferably before metal detector is even paid for)------will the unit be capable of detecting the nesaccary metals at the required frequency to control the hazard

 

Verify---daily/weekly QA check (usually QA but not always) to verify detector is working as per SOP

 

CCP Monitoring ---the operational checks of the metal detector based on the # units passing through it hourly/daily etc

 

No validation study was performed prior to implementation???

 

I am not sure when was this installed (I am new in the facility), however most of the equipment are old (without manual).
I on-site quarterly to verify DTEs performing task as per SOP

so I guess I don't have validation study/report/certificate.

 

Thanks for reply

[Scampi]

Here is a tool issued by CFIA that may be of assistance

 

https://www.cmc-cvc....ssim Khoury.pdf

[Krishna Ambilwade]

Here is a tool issued by CFIA that may be of assistance

 

https://www.cmc-cvc....ssim Khoury.pdf

Thank you this pdf looks great

[Charles.C]

Hi Scampi,

 

Thks as always for the offering and definitely no intentions to be over-critical but IMHO this document is sort of  gobbledegook.

 

Seems  to have no specific context other than SFCA-related.

 

IMO this (2014) CFIA document  should  have  included a specific reference to the now classic Codex 2008 document on Validation which it seems to be extracting quotes from. The Codex document has itself sooo much more to say on the matter of "Background".

 

PS - Indian Gupta = Canadian Krishna ??

[Krishna Ambilwade]

Hi 
CFIA have not ask us to validate metal detector yet ( i mean in last 8 months)
we show that we on-site quarterly and that is sufficient verification for them
However we are planning to go for BRC and some BRC-auditor asked me for annual validation studies/certificate/report for metal detector

[FSQA]

Hi 
CFIA have not ask us to validate metal detector yet ( i mean in last 8 months)
we show that we on-site quarterly and that is sufficient verification for them
However we are planning to go for BRC and some BRC-auditor asked me for annual validation studies/certificate/report for metal detector

Here is a link on this topic that can be helpful: (i would also recommend to see post # 6 for understanding of the requirement)

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...ctors/?p=105910

 

IMO: You should inquire the manufacturer of the equipment, as they can advise you how often it needs to be done and if economical and cost effective, they can perform it on site.