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In-House Yearly MD or Xray Calibration For BRC V8

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PSC

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Posted 22 March 2019 - 08:49 PM

Hello,

 

I have a question about performing in-house calibration of metal detectors and xrays.

 

Management has requested that we perform the calibration of our metal detectors and xray machines in-house rather than continuing to use the third party due to their price tag for yearly calibration. Please note that our metal detector and xray are considered CCP's.

 

I looked around on the forum and could only find one thread about this topic, but it is many years old. https://www.ifsqn.co...ctors-accepted/

 

I understand that it is the norm to have a third party calibrate measuring equipment, especially ones associated with CCP's. However, I can't find anything in the BRC V.8, specifically Clauses in 6.4, that requires the calibration to be done by a third party.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this to make me feel better about us doing our machine calibrations in-house?

 

Thank you!

 

 



Teecem

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Posted 25 March 2019 - 04:03 PM

Is the person who is going to do the in house service and calibration fully trained and signed off to do it? In which case you will be OK (so long as they have a training certificate).

 

If not I would suggest the easiest one is to have the machines serviced and calibrated by the manufacturer or a trained contractor. Its a false economy on your companies part if its a CCP and you can't show its been serviced and calibrated by a trained person then you will just get a major non-conformance as you have failed to maintain a piece of equipment which is required for the safety and legality of your product. They could also raise a management commitment issue.

 

Many years ago I used to have an engineer who had been on the equipment manufacturers course and was fully signed off to do the service and calibrations on our machines I assume this would still be OK today but most people would find that training course cost prohibitive unless they had a lot of machines and if something big went wrong we always had to get someone out from the manufacturer anyway

 

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Charles.C

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Posted 26 March 2019 - 11:25 AM

Hello,

 

I have a question about performing in-house calibration of metal detectors and xrays.

 

Management has requested that we perform the calibration of our metal detectors and xray machines in-house rather than continuing to use the third party due to their price tag for yearly calibration. Please note that our metal detector and xray are considered CCP's.

 

I looked around on the forum and could only find one thread about this topic, but it is many years old. https://www.ifsqn.co...ctors-accepted/

 

I understand that it is the norm to have a third party calibrate measuring equipment, especially ones associated with CCP's. However, I can't find anything in the BRC V.8, specifically Clauses in 6.4, that requires the calibration to be done by a third party.

 

Can anyone shed some light on this to make me feel better about us doing our machine calibrations in-house?

 

Thank you!

 

Hi PSC,

 

Actually Calibration/BRC is (maybe) a semantically tricky topic, see this Post/thread -

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...rs/#entry105910


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


john.kukoly

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Posted 27 March 2019 - 09:37 AM

Charles- I agree with your position on the concept of calibrating  this type of equipment.

 

That being said, the annual "health check" for a metal detector or x-ray system, by a factory qualified technician is pretty good insurance. I have always insisted on this being done, with the main objective having the knowledge that an expert in the equipment is letting me know it is in good working order and should continue to function for the next year.

 

Remember that most time's you are looking at a 6 to 8 week replacement time for this type of equipment. Having a heads up that the system is due for replacement is what you pay for - and this can be assessed by having a technician assess the field strengths and electronics condition, among other things.

 

Yes, less expensive in the short term to have a general maintenance technician look it over. Ask management what their plan is in case of failure - shutting down the line for months waiting for a replacement, or buying spare detectors and keeping them on hand just in case. The savings aren't always that attractive when you look at ramifications.

 

 

John



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Charles.C

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Posted 27 March 2019 - 01:37 PM

Charles- I agree with your position on the concept of calibrating  this type of equipment.

 

That being said, the annual "health check" for a metal detector or x-ray system, by a factory qualified technician is pretty good insurance. I have always insisted on this being done, with the main objective having the knowledge that an expert in the equipment is letting me know it is in good working order and should continue to function for the next year.

 

Remember that most time's you are looking at a 6 to 8 week replacement time for this type of equipment. Having a heads up that the system is due for replacement is what you pay for - and this can be assessed by having a technician assess the field strengths and electronics condition, among other things.

 

Yes, less expensive in the short term to have a general maintenance technician look it over. Ask management what their plan is in case of failure - shutting down the line for months waiting for a replacement, or buying spare detectors and keeping them on hand just in case. The savings aren't always that attractive when you look at ramifications.

 

 

John

 

Hi John,

 

Indeed I agree that maintenance, despite it's often being contrary to the Engineer's Rule Book, is mostly beneficial IMEX.

 

Since MD's are often CCP items and 2nd hand ones are often available. my experience was to purchase a backup.


Kind Regards,

 

Charles.C


Kiran

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Posted 01 April 2019 - 07:54 AM

Depending on country/location, local regulations may require annual maintenance service by qualified service tech for x-ray.  This is for radiation safety.



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