PMEL Forum

The Open/Short/Load Air Force procedure in GIDEP is not how a decent cal lab would calibrate a cal kit.
Considering how manually intensive calibrating a cal kit is, a software solution is funny to me.

All you need is to calibrate a VNA with a TRL cal kit. That is how Keysight does it. The error correction is so superior to SOLT, that you can just measure the short/open/load components and test for compliance. Maury Microwave and Focus Microwaves make TRL cal kits. They're not cheap.

One hurdle of the calibration is determining the nominal values of the open and short. Another hurdle is calculating equivalent return loss of a sliding load. It just takes some research.

Needing a Phys D technician at our calibration lab next to the San Antonio airport. Mid level experience or higher preferred. Respond through this website. Thanks!

Chris

Metrology Technician

Knowledgeable of all facets of US Air Force PMEL / US Navy Metrology and Calibration

Program. Physical Dimensional and Low Frequency AC/DC experience highly desirable.

Advanced knowledge in calibration traceability, metrology techniques, calculating

uncertainty budgets, and laboratory practices

Excellent computer skills specifically using Microsoft Office products; ability to learn

additional software programs

Ability to lift at least 50 pounds

Calibrate/Repair/Use TMDE such as DC and AC voltage standards, multi-function

calibrators, resistance standards, AC/DC transfer measurement standards, DC and AC

current TMDE, high accuracy digital multi-meters, torque, temperature, length, force

and pressure TMDE

Standards level calibration experience preferred.

Experience in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory preferred.

US Citizen ability to obtain a security clearance

Minimum 4-6 years experience

Salary position $70,000 – $75,000

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k)
Dental insurance
Flexible schedule
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
Schedule:

8 hour shift
Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:

Springfield, VA: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Experience:

ISO 17025: 1 year (Required)
Calibration: 4 years (Required)

POC Tom Rouan
[email protected]
703-569-0670

Calibration Technician

Perform verification, testing and calibration and limited repair of electrical, mechanical, electro-mechanical, electronic measuring, recording, and other types of instruments and equipment for conformance to established standards. Assist in preventive maintenance of laboratory calibration standards as well as ongoing development of testing procedures and other laboratory support functions.

Responsibilities
•   Perform testing, verification and calibration events in our laboratories or in the field at customer sites. Calibration on instruments include meters, o'scopes, generators and analyzers.
•   Measures parts for conformity with specifications, using micrometers, calipers, torque, mass, temperature, humidity and other precision instruments.
•   Aligns, repairs (limited), replaces, and necessary component parts and circuitry. Reassembles and calibrates instruments and equipment.
•   Contributes to and develops procedures for evolving capabilities and devises formulas to solve problems in measurements and calibrations.
•   Assists engineers and senior metrologists in formulating test, calibration, repair, and evaluation plans and procedures to maintain precision accuracy of measuring, recording, and indicating instruments and equipment.

contact Nick
[email protected]

   I would ask for clarification of the "requirement". What action would be required by you to satisfy the "requirement"? Also, ask them the reference in the standard they are referencing so you can read it yourself. Then put a statement in your quality manual as to how you satisfy the requirement.
   Some auditors have their own interpretation of the standard, but it is not necessarily the intent of the standard. If your interpretation is the review the calibration document and verify the As Left data on the certificate is within tolerance, then I believe you meet the verification requirement.

The accrediting body is saying we are required by ISO to "verify all equipment sent for outside calibration is still within manufacturer's specification when it returns from calibration".

I have a PMEL (Lowry 1982) background and am currently working in the QC department at a testing laboratory. Some departments have accreditations for specific disciplines, but we aren't a traditional calibration lab.

The QC department where I work reviews the certificates of calibration for equipment sent for outside calibration and logs the results.

We accept that damage can occur during shipping and I am looking at equipment that will monitor/record shock during shipping. If we monitor for it and there is no reason to believe there is any shipping damage, the view we have is that it's reasonable to expect that accredited calibration results are valid.

We believe we are doing a good job of verifying our equipment is within manufacturer's tolerance, and want to remain in compliance with the accrediting body. We are wondering if anyone else has experience with this particular issue, and if there is a reasonable solution.

  Are they asking if you are reviewing the calibration certificate to ensure the as left data is within spec or are they expecting you to test the UUT to verify it is operating correctly. If you run performance verifications on your equipment then I would run a performance verification. We ran into an issue where our Fluke low pressure standard returned from calibration. We check it against a DWT once a month so we have a history vs that standard., When I ran the comparison, I found they Fluke unit was out of tolerance. We returned it and they found damage from shipping.
  We run and document these performance verifications on many of our critical standards.

Note: I inadvertently posted this in the "General" section. After thinking it over, I have decided it actually belongs here.

I have an ISO accrediting organization (well known) insisting that we start "verifying that equipment returning from outside calibration is within the specified manufacturer's tolerance".

In the past, we would audit shipping methods and packing material, verify the vehicles used had adequate padding etc...

At first I thought this was just a junior auditor who was just learning the ropes but the issue does not appear to be going away, and my QC manager (who is competent and reasonable) is searching for a solution.

Is anyone else getting this requirement form their accrediting organizations?

Have you found a reasonable way to comply?

I argued this issue in 1988, first job out of the AF. I ended up in front of the company president, who listened and then hired and fired auditors until he found the one who would find to his liking. I ended up moving on until I found an outfit that wanted someone like me.

It's near certain you will end up doing the same thing.

I have an ISO accrediting organization (well known) insisting that we start "verifying that equipment returning from outside calibration is within the specified manufacturer's tolerance".

In the past, we would audit shipping methods and packing material, verify the vehicles used had adequate padding etc...

At first I thought this was just a junior auditor who was just learning the ropes but the issue does not appear to be going away, and my QC manager (who is competent and reasonable) is searching for a solution.

Is anyone else getting this requirement form their accrediting organizations?

Have you found a reasonable way to comply?