TOP-CALIB

Scope: This procedure covers the calibration control program for precision measuring instruments. Instruments² to be used for ANY measurement affecting the quality of Trinity Forge products must be entered into the Calibration System ⁴ and tagged with a current calibration sticker. This also includes gages calibrated by an outside ISO17025 lab.

STEP WHO WHEN INFO TO USE WHAT TO DO

1 Any team member Before using any precision measuring instrument The calibration sticker on the instrument and the Measuring Instrument Verification Log
At the start of the each shift:

1. Verify¹ that each instrument and/or standard to be used is tagged with a current Trinity Forge "Calibration" sticker

2. Verify each quality related measuring instrument² that will be used during a shift; record the verification and all other pertinent information on the Measuring Instrument Verification Log; IF THE INSTRUMENT AND/OR STANDARD IS DAMAGED, HAS AN EXPIRED CALIBRATION STICKER, FAILS TO ZERO, OR FAILS VERIFICATION AGAINST A CURRENT CALIBRATED STANDARD, SUBMIT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE QC Supervisor OR CALIBRATIONS CLERK -- DO NOT USE!!

2 QC Supervisor or Calibrations Clerk Instrument(s) needs to be repaired or adjusted Verbal and/or visual information from any team member about the instrument(s) condition Submit the instrument(s) to Metrology; initiate recheck per TOP-RECHK.

3 Any team member (typically QC Supervisor) Having any precision measuring instrument needing to be placed into the Calibration System Personal knowledge Submit instrument to the Calibrations Clerk for an acceptance review.

4 Calibrations Clerk Upon receiving a precision instrument for entry or update into the Calibration System Request from submitter Calibrate the instrument per step 6.

5 Calibrations Clerk As instruments become due for periodic calibration or are submitted for calibration due to questionable performance Calibration System A list shall be pulled at the beginning of each month reflecting what is due to expire in that given month and sort by date. This list shall be hung in the QA office for anyone to see and will also be sorted and sent the respective QC department, Machine or Forge. This list shall be updated weekly or more depending on the number of items calibrated throughout the week.

Collect all instruments that are due or that have been turned in by users for calibration; identify in the Calibration System any instruments that have been lost, discarded or taken out of service.

6 Calibrations Clerk As instruments are submitted for calibration and as due dates make it necessary Calibration System , ISPEC-CALIB

Calibrate the instrument to standards traceable to NIST and record the readings in the Calibration System.

Perform any instrument adjustment as needed to bring the instrument within the acceptable limits for proper calibration.

QC Inspectors and others required to meet the SNT-TC-1A-8.2 Visual Acuity Standard, refer the individual to Human Resources for the necessary eye examination.

Magnaflux Inspectors are required to have training by a certified Level III Magnaflux Inspector to maintain a Magnaflux Inspector Level II rating. See ISPEC-NDTTR

Furnace temperature controls are calibrated per TOP-BRKDN

Perform any instrument adjustment as needed to bring the instrument within the acceptable limits for proper calibration

Any personal instruments requiring advanced or extensive calibration, adjustment or repair will be returned to the owner for disposition.

All transactions will be noted in the Calibration System

Require a report on the condition of the instruments received by the calibration vendor. They must cite applicable Federal specifications and tolerances along with required traceability to NIST.

File electronic copies of Calibration Certificates in the Metrology Folder.

7 Calibrations Clerk As instruments are submitted for calibration and as due dates makes it necessary. Calibrations Clerk, ISPEC-CALIB For any gages outside the scope of Trinity's calibration program. An oustide ISO17025 accredited lab shall be able to calibrate gages per the ANSI/NCSL Z540 latest revision standard and/or ASME-B-89³ standard for software involved calibration, adjustment or repair.

Create a PO for the outside lab ensuring that the vendor is on Trinity's AVL.

Move the gage to "Out for Calibration" in GTS

Properly package the gage and a copy of the PO for delivery to the calibration lab.
8 Calibrations Clerk For any instrument failing calibration (including vendor calibrations) that cannot be economically repaired Results of calibration Tag the defective instrument with a red REJECT label and make the appropriate entry in the Calibration System ; return personal or customer instruments to the owner; properly dispose of Trinity Forge defective instruments; notify the supervisor(s) of affected area.

9 Calibrations Clerk For any instrument failing calibration (including vendor calibrations) that can be economically repaired Results of Calibration Notify the Supervisor;.repair instrument in-house, if possible, or send to an approved calibration vendor per step 7 and initiate re-checking per TOP-RECHK; in the case of Visual Acuity failure, after corrective action is taken, refer to step 6.

10 Calibrations Clerk When an instrument passes calibration Results of calibration Decide on the next calibration date based on type, condition, environment, use of the instrument and recommended calibration frequency⁴; update the Calibration System and tag the instrument with a calibration sticker showing identification, calibration date, next calibration date and the calibrator’s stamp; apply any safeguard to protect the instrument from adjustments that would invalidate the calibration; return the instrument to user with any recommendations.

11 Calibrations Clerk When an instrument passes calibration from an outside vendor Results of calibration; Calibration Cert Review calibration cert for all necessary requirements and that sticker and calibration cert have matching dates.

Move gage back to "Active" in GTS and calibrate per the provided cert. (Note: when outside calibration is used, calibration date is the date provided on the cert from the service provider)

Return gage to service. NO GAGE IS TO BE PUT BACK INTO SERVICE PRIOR TO UPDATING OF GTS
12 Calibrations Clerk When a calibration date needs to be extended Calibration System or own judgment Calibration due dates may be extended by no more than one-half of its normal calibration period under circumstances deemed appropriate; note the extension and circumstances in the Calibration System

13 Calibrations Clerk When instruments are not in use for extended periods or are missing Personal knowledge For an instrument that is not in use it may be tagged as “IA” (inactive), appropriately stored and noted in the Calibration System ; tools that are missing will be entered into the Calibration System as such; a “Tool Status” e-mail is to be sent to the appropriate supervisor(s).

14 Calibrations Clerk, or any supervisor When an inactive ("IA") precision measuring instrument is needed Personal knowledge and the calibration sticker on instrument Go to step 4 unless the Calibrations Clerk is not available; in the event that the Calibrations Clerk is not available, and a tool is needed in an emergency, a supervisor may temporarily activate the tool by doing a calibration per step 6; an email must be sent immediately to Calibrations Clerk; when the Calibrations Clerk becomes available, the tool will be submitted for proper calibration and entry into the Calibration System .

15 QA Manager Periodically, typically monthly Calibration System; calibration stickers Assign a Trinity Forge team member to perform a Mini-Audit per TOP-IAUDT of the Calibration System by randomly selecting gages from various shop locations and tracing their calibration back to the database and supporting documentation.

¹An instrument is verified by taking measurements at the lower 25% AND upper 75% (rounded to the nearest whole increment) of the measuring instrument's measurement range. After taking the above maximum measure, the measuring instrument must be returned to zero (0) point and the reading observed. All prescribed tolerances must be observed; deficiencies including tip wear that may cause the instrument to measure incorrectly must be monitored

²Includes, but is not restricted to any existing calibrated and logged precision measuring device (caliper, CMM, v-block, micrometer, scale, fixture, gage etc.), any precision measuring device not previously entered into the Calibration System , any previously rejected precision measuring device that has been repaired, or any individual required by TOPS (QC Inspectors, Magnaflux Inspectors, etc.) to be entered into the Calibration System.

³Calibration frequency is 12 months for CMM, Surface Tables, Master Blocks, CNC Machines, Thread Gages, and 1-5 years (based on usage) on Standard Blocks. Visual Acuity examinations will be given within the first ninety (90) days of hire date regardless of temporary or full-time employment status. This testing is required for QC Inspectors, QC Leadman, Post Forge Workers that work on the inspection table, or anyone doing a visual inspection of a part as part of final review; this testing will be administered annually; magnaflux Level II every 5 years; calibration frequency on all other instruments is 6 months unless otherwise specified by the QA Manager.

⁴Calibration System includes but is not restricted to Quality Control, the Calibration Log, the Verification Log, and Gage Tracking System (GTS).

Release Date	Description of Change	Owner	Approver
12/06/2017	Updated to comply with revised Quality Manual and new TOPs format.	Tim Ellis	Todd Sheppard
01/18/2023	Updated Step 5 to reflect pulling monthly lists for gages that will be coming up for calibration.	Dustin Jump	Todd Sheppard
2/23/2023	Updated to better define process for sending out gages for calibration, added steps 7 and 11	Dustin Jump	Todd Sheppard

STEP	WHO	WHEN	INFO TO USE	WHAT TO DO
1	Any team member	Before using any precision measuring instrument	The calibration sticker on the instrument and the Measuring Instrument Verification Log	At the start of the each shift: 1. Verify¹ that each instrument and/or standard to be used is tagged with a current Trinity Forge "Calibration" sticker 2. Verify each quality related measuring instrument² that will be used during a shift; record the verification and all other pertinent information on the Measuring Instrument Verification Log; IF THE INSTRUMENT AND/OR STANDARD IS DAMAGED, HAS AN EXPIRED CALIBRATION STICKER, FAILS TO ZERO, OR FAILS VERIFICATION AGAINST A CURRENT CALIBRATED STANDARD, SUBMIT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE QC Supervisor OR CALIBRATIONS CLERK -- DO NOT USE!!
2	QC Supervisor or Calibrations Clerk	Instrument(s) needs to be repaired or adjusted	Verbal and/or visual information from any team member about the instrument(s) condition	Submit the instrument(s) to Metrology; initiate recheck per TOP-RECHK.
3	Any team member (typically QC Supervisor)	Having any precision measuring instrument needing to be placed into the Calibration System	Personal knowledge	Submit instrument to the Calibrations Clerk for an acceptance review.
4	Calibrations Clerk	Upon receiving a precision instrument for entry or update into the Calibration System	Request from submitter	Calibrate the instrument per step 6.
5	Calibrations Clerk	As instruments become due for periodic calibration or are submitted for calibration due to questionable performance	Calibration System	A list shall be pulled at the beginning of each month reflecting what is due to expire in that given month and sort by date. This list shall be hung in the QA office for anyone to see and will also be sorted and sent the respective QC department, Machine or Forge. This list shall be updated weekly or more depending on the number of items calibrated throughout the week. Collect all instruments that are due or that have been turned in by users for calibration; identify in the Calibration System any instruments that have been lost, discarded or taken out of service.
6	Calibrations Clerk	As instruments are submitted for calibration and as due dates make it necessary	Calibration System , ISPEC-CALIB	Calibrate the instrument to standards traceable to NIST and record the readings in the Calibration System. Perform any instrument adjustment as needed to bring the instrument within the acceptable limits for proper calibration. QC Inspectors and others required to meet the SNT-TC-1A-8.2 Visual Acuity Standard, refer the individual to Human Resources for the necessary eye examination. Magnaflux Inspectors are required to have training by a certified Level III Magnaflux Inspector to maintain a Magnaflux Inspector Level II rating. See ISPEC-NDTTR Furnace temperature controls are calibrated per TOP-BRKDN Perform any instrument adjustment as needed to bring the instrument within the acceptable limits for proper calibration Any personal instruments requiring advanced or extensive calibration, adjustment or repair will be returned to the owner for disposition. All transactions will be noted in the Calibration System Require a report on the condition of the instruments received by the calibration vendor. They must cite applicable Federal specifications and tolerances along with required traceability to NIST. File electronic copies of Calibration Certificates in the Metrology Folder.
7	Calibrations Clerk	As instruments are submitted for calibration and as due dates makes it necessary.	Calibrations Clerk, ISPEC-CALIB	For any gages outside the scope of Trinity's calibration program. An oustide ISO17025 accredited lab shall be able to calibrate gages per the ANSI/NCSL Z540 latest revision standard and/or ASME-B-89³ standard for software involved calibration, adjustment or repair. Create a PO for the outside lab ensuring that the vendor is on Trinity's AVL. Move the gage to "Out for Calibration" in GTS Properly package the gage and a copy of the PO for delivery to the calibration lab.
8	Calibrations Clerk	For any instrument failing calibration (including vendor calibrations) that cannot be economically repaired	Results of calibration	Tag the defective instrument with a red REJECT label and make the appropriate entry in the Calibration System ; return personal or customer instruments to the owner; properly dispose of Trinity Forge defective instruments; notify the supervisor(s) of affected area.
9	Calibrations Clerk	For any instrument failing calibration (including vendor calibrations) that can be economically repaired	Results of Calibration	Notify the Supervisor;.repair instrument in-house, if possible, or send to an approved calibration vendor per step 7 and initiate re-checking per TOP-RECHK; in the case of Visual Acuity failure, after corrective action is taken, refer to step 6.
10	Calibrations Clerk	When an instrument passes calibration	Results of calibration	Decide on the next calibration date based on type, condition, environment, use of the instrument and recommended calibration frequency⁴; update the Calibration System and tag the instrument with a calibration sticker showing identification, calibration date, next calibration date and the calibrator’s stamp; apply any safeguard to protect the instrument from adjustments that would invalidate the calibration; return the instrument to user with any recommendations.
11	Calibrations Clerk	When an instrument passes calibration from an outside vendor	Results of calibration; Calibration Cert	Review calibration cert for all necessary requirements and that sticker and calibration cert have matching dates. Move gage back to "Active" in GTS and calibrate per the provided cert. (Note: when outside calibration is used, calibration date is the date provided on the cert from the service provider) Return gage to service. NO GAGE IS TO BE PUT BACK INTO SERVICE PRIOR TO UPDATING OF GTS
12	Calibrations Clerk	When a calibration date needs to be extended	Calibration System or own judgment	Calibration due dates may be extended by no more than one-half of its normal calibration period under circumstances deemed appropriate; note the extension and circumstances in the Calibration System
13	Calibrations Clerk	When instruments are not in use for extended periods or are missing	Personal knowledge	For an instrument that is not in use it may be tagged as “IA” (inactive), appropriately stored and noted in the Calibration System ; tools that are missing will be entered into the Calibration System as such; a “Tool Status” e-mail is to be sent to the appropriate supervisor(s).
14	Calibrations Clerk, or any supervisor	When an inactive ("IA") precision measuring instrument is needed	Personal knowledge and the calibration sticker on instrument	Go to step 4 unless the Calibrations Clerk is not available; in the event that the Calibrations Clerk is not available, and a tool is needed in an emergency, a supervisor may temporarily activate the tool by doing a calibration per step 6; an email must be sent immediately to Calibrations Clerk; when the Calibrations Clerk becomes available, the tool will be submitted for proper calibration and entry into the Calibration System .
15	QA Manager	Periodically, typically monthly	Calibration System; calibration stickers	Assign a Trinity Forge team member to perform a Mini-Audit per TOP-IAUDT of the Calibration System by randomly selecting gages from various shop locations and tracing their calibration back to the database and supporting documentation.