Dealing with Measurement Variability in Data and Method Documentation for ISO 9001- 9002, 1995 Process & Product Quality Conference Proceedings

Ann C. Timberlake

Repap Wisconsin, Inc.

Section 4.11 of ANSI/ASQC Q9002-1994 addresses control of inspection, measuring, and test equipment. The first paragraph contains two requirements; the first is the familiar maintenance and calibration of equipment; the second, which is not so familiar to most of us, is knowledge of measurement uncertainty or variation and measurement capability. Measurement variation is composed of variation from many sources; a maintenance and calibration program addresses only a small portion of them and does little to quantify measurement uncertainty or capability. A measurement control program using paper reference product and multiple Shewhart control charts for each test procedure permits determination of measurement variation confounded with a minimum of reference product variability for destructive testing as well as nondestructive testing. It also facilitates meeting other ANSI/ASQC 49002-1994 requirements, such as new equipment certification and training documentation.