Jump to content

  • Quick Navigation
Photo

Does the QA scale need to be certified?

Share this

  • You cannot start a new topic
  • Please log in to reply
7 replies to this topic
- - - - -

itreatpets

    Grade - MIFSQN

  • IFSQN Member
  • 73 posts
  • 13 thanks
4
Neutral

  • Canada
    Canada

Posted 20 July 2017 - 12:19 PM

Good Morning everyone!

 

I am putting together an in house lab and I want to make sure all of my equipment is up to standard. 

 

I am looking for a scale to only be used for lab QA use, it's not for sale or trade purposes just to confirm bag weights, weight samples, and possibly weight mediums. Would this scale need to be Certified or would a Letter of Accuracy be enough for the scale? 

 

Thanks in advance for your replies!

 

 

 



Chloe.ramsey

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 2 posts
  • 0 thanks
1
Neutral

  • United States
    United States

Posted 20 July 2017 - 02:55 PM

Per regulations if you're doing audit checks for a customer, the scale needs to calibrated. Also, it's a very good idea to have all your scales calibrated at least annually.



SQFconsultant

    SQFconsultant

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 4,632 posts
  • 1135 thanks
1,126
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:Just when I thought I was out - They pulled me back in!!!

Posted 20 July 2017 - 05:19 PM

Using part of Module 11 as an example:

 

11.2.10.4 Equipment shall be calibrated against national or international reference standards and methods or to accuracy appropriate to its use. In cases where standards are not available, the supplier shall provide evidence to support the calibration reference method applied.
11.2.10.5 Calibration shall be performed according to regulatory requirements and/or to the equipment manufacturers recommended schedule.
11.2.10.6 Calibration records shall be maintained.
 
The question would be, what does your area/country require for such an important scale? I would think certification.

All the Best,

 

All Rights Reserved,

Without Prejudice,

Glenn Oster.

Glenn Oster Consulting, LLC -

SQF System Development | Internal Auditor Training | eConsultant

Martha's Vineyard Island, MA - Restored Republic

http://www.GCEMVI.XYZ

http://www.GlennOster.com

 


andrew normoyle

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 1 posts
  • 0 thanks
0
Neutral

  • Australia
    Australia

Posted 20 July 2017 - 07:16 PM

As mentioned, the scales are being used for inhouse purposes only, the weighing stage is not a CCP and presumably calibration would be conducted daily with a "known mass", therefore they don't need to be certified by an accredited organisation.  In an ideal world, everything would meet the gold standard, however in commercial reality it doesn't work that way.



Charles.C

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Moderator
  • 20,542 posts
  • 5662 thanks
1,544
Excellent

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Male
  • Interests:SF
    TV
    Movies

Posted 21 July 2017 - 02:15 AM

As mentioned, the scales are being used for inhouse purposes only, the weighing stage is not a CCP and presumably calibration would be conducted daily with a "known mass", therefore they don't need to be certified by an accredited organisation.  In an ideal world, everything would meet the gold standard, however in commercial reality it doesn't work that way.

 

Hi Andrew,

 

As you imply it is rather unlikely that weight will be a safety hazard. Except perhaps when carrying 20kg checkweights.

 

I agree with yr comment except that IMO the checkweight must be appropriately certified, either directly, or as a sub-master checkweight.

 

IMEX most quality laboratory analytical balances from reputable suppliers have established tolerances which the supplier themself use for calibration. The scale is then simply calibrated via certified weights against such a tolerance. It's not exactly rocket science except that the tolerances may vary with the scale ranges. If you don't have the data, simply pay for one offficial visit and you will see, and can note, the methodology used. That's what i did.


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


Thanked by 1 Member:

Sigrid B

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 13 posts
  • 6 thanks
1
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Female

Posted 21 July 2017 - 07:21 AM

The weighing scales at our QA laboratory which are used for verification of gross weights and net weights are still calibrated annually. The corresponding certificates are not usually asked for during audits though.

 

The ones that we use for chemical preparations, verification of regulated additives weights, etc. are a different matter of course. The certificates for these are audited and are required to be traceable to international standards.



rdeboer1986

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 33 posts
  • 14 thanks
1
Neutral

  • Norway
    Norway

Posted 21 July 2017 - 01:10 PM

We have all our scales (for internal purpose and sales purpose) certified by the national authorities, just to be on the safe side during audits (BRC/IFS) ;)



Gerard H.

    Grade - SIFSQN

  • IFSQN Senior
  • 411 posts
  • 131 thanks
44
Excellent

  • France
    France
  • Gender:Male

Posted 21 July 2017 - 02:40 PM

Dear Mr., Ms.,

 

A scale for commercial purposes is specific and has its own requirements, as described in the legislation.

 

A scale for your QA lab has other purposes, as you described. Depending on your activities, you need to define a precision level. In general there is more than 1 scale in a  laboratory, all depending of the weights you like to measure and of the required precision.

 

And yes, include them in the maintenance and calibration schedule, as the QA department needs to produce significant data. The maintenance can normally be done by the same company as the one who maintains your commercial scales.

 

I hope I could add some extra explanation for you to this complex topic. Above there was already a lot of valuable information. I liked to add a bit more, as you are actually buying scales.

 

I wish you good luck and good decisions!

 

Kind regards,

 

Gerard Heerkens





Share this

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users