# Gauges and calibration (/docs/quality/gauges-and-calibration)

A gauge that is out of calibration is locked out of inspection. Overdue gauges are locked out of the
tablet and QC screens. The default QA engineer is Jason Wong. The default QA manager is Grace Ooi.

## The gauge register [#the-gauge-register]

Open **Quality > Calibration**. The list shows each gauge's **Last calibrated**, **Interval** (**6
months**, **12 months** or **24 months**), **Calibration due** and **Status**.

```mermaid
%% title: Gauge status flow
flowchart LR
  A[In use] -->|Record calibration, found out of tolerance| B[Out of tolerance]
  B -->|Close · assessment complete| A
  A -->|Quarantine| C[Quarantined]
  A -->|Retire| D[Retired]
  C -->|Retire| D
  C -->|Record calibration| A
```

| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **In use** | Calibrated and available. Shows as overdue once **Calibration due** has passed. |
| **Out of tolerance** | Found out of tolerance. Locked until the impact is assessed. |
| **Quarantined** | Locked out of every inspection. |
| **Retired** | Locked for good. A retired gauge is not calibrated back into use. |

## Record and approve a calibration [#record-and-approve-a-calibration]

<Steps>
<Step>

Open the gauge and choose **Record calibration**. The system starts a calibration record, for example
CAL-2026-044, with status **Draft** and you as **Recorded by**. If you already have a draft for that gauge, it
opens instead.

</Step>
<Step>

Fill in **Calibrated on**, **Calibrated by** (the lab), **Certificate no.**, **Reference standard /
traceability**, **As found** (**In tolerance** or **Out of tolerance**), **Readings and error** and **As
left** (**Pass** or **Fail**). Add **Adjusted** and **Next due** if they apply.

</Step>
<Step>

A different person (the QA engineer) chooses **Approve calibration** and signs. You cannot approve your own record.

</Step>
<Step>

If the gauge was in tolerance and passed, the record is **Closed**, the gauge is **In use**, and **Last
calibrated** and **Calibration due** are updated. **Next due** cannot be later than the interval allows.

</Step>
<Step>

If **As left** is **Fail**, the gauge is **Quarantined**. If **As found** is **Out of tolerance**, the gauge is
locked as **Out of tolerance** and the record goes to **Impact assessment**. The system lists the
inspections made with that gauge since its last good calibration in **Records measured since last good calibration**.

</Step>
</Steps>

<GuideStep
  title="Calibration records"
  description="Every calibration with its gauge, finding and status."
  src="/guide/gauges-and-calibration/1.png"
  alt="Calibration records list on desktop with gauge, as found, as left and status columns"
  width={1440}
  height={1000}
  callouts={[
    { x: 82, y: 14, caption: "Calibration records are started from the gauge." },
    { x: 55, y: 40, caption: "As found and as left results." },
    { x: 88, y: 40, caption: "Status: Draft, Impact assessment or Closed." },
  ]}
/>

## Assess an out-of-tolerance finding [#assess-an-out-of-tolerance-finding]

```mermaid
%% title: Calibration record status flow
flowchart LR
  A[Draft] -->|Approve calibration| B{As found out of tolerance?}
  B -->|No| C[Closed]
  B -->|Yes| D[Impact assessment]
  D -->|Raise NCR| D
  D -->|Close · assessment complete| C
```

<Steps>
<Step>

Open the record in **Impact assessment**. Read the affected inspections. Write the **Impact assessment**
and choose a **Decision**.

</Step>
<Step>

If product may be affected, choose **Raise NCR**. The NCR has source **IPQC** and disposition **Hold ·
100% sort**, and is linked to the record. See [Handle nonconformances and CAPA](/docs/quality/ncr-and-capa).

</Step>
<Step>

Choose **Close · assessment complete** and sign. The record is **Closed**. A gauge that was **Out of
tolerance** goes back to **In use**.

</Step>
</Steps>

<GuideStep
  title="A calibration record"
  description="Readings, impact assessment and the next button."
  src="/guide/gauges-and-calibration/2.png"
  alt="Calibration record CAL-2026-044 with readings, impact assessment and the Raise NCR button"
  width={1440}
  height={1000}
  callouts={[
    { x: 82, y: 14, caption: "Raise NCR, or Close · assessment complete." },
    { x: 40, y: 45, caption: "Readings, as found and as left." },
    { x: 40, y: 75, caption: "Impact assessment and decision." },
  ]}
/>

## Quarantine or retire a gauge [#quarantine-or-retire-a-gauge]

On a gauge that is **In use**, choose **Quarantine** to lock it out until it is calibrated again, or
**Retire** to remove it for good. A **Quarantined** gauge can be calibrated again with **Record
calibration** or retired.

## Run a gauge R&R study [#run-a-gauge-rr-study]

Open **Quality > Gauge R&R**. A study shows whether a gauge measures well enough for a characteristic.

```mermaid
%% title: Gauge R&R study status flow
flowchart LR
  A[Draft] -->|Calculate · submit| B[Submitted]
  B -->|Approve study| C[Approved]
  B -->|Reject · gauge not capable| D[Rejected]
  D -->|Reset to draft| A
```

<Steps>
<Step>

Choose **Add**. Pick the **Gauge**, the **Characteristic** and the **Method** (**Average & range** or
**ANOVA**). Enter **Parts**, **Operators**, **Trials**, **EV σ (repeatability)**, **AV σ (reproducibility)**,
**PV σ (part)** and **Tolerance (USL − LSL)**.

</Step>
<Step>

Choose **Calculate · submit** and sign. The system fills **% study var.**, **% tolerance**, **ndc** and the
**Result**: up to 10% is **Acceptable**, up to 30% is **Conditional**, above that is **Unacceptable**.
Fewer than 5 categories (ndc) makes an acceptable study **Conditional**.

</Step>
<Step>

Choose **Approve study** and sign. For a **Conditional** result, first write the **Justification
(conditional)**. An **Unacceptable** gauge cannot be approved. Choose **Reject · gauge not capable**
instead: the gauge is **Quarantined**.

</Step>
</Steps>

<GuideStep
  title="Gauge R&R studies"
  description="Each study with its percentages and result."
  src="/guide/gauges-and-calibration/3.png"
  alt="Gauge R&R studies list on desktop with study variation, tolerance, ndc and result columns"
  width={1440}
  height={1000}
  callouts={[
    { x: 82, y: 14, caption: "Add a study." },
    { x: 55, y: 40, caption: "% study var., % tolerance and ndc." },
    { x: 80, y: 40, caption: "Result: Acceptable, Conditional or Unacceptable." },
  ]}
/>

## If the system refuses [#if-the-system-refuses]

The messages are in [Training and gauges refusals](/docs/quality/training-and-gauges-refusals#gauges).

<NextSteps>

<NextStep href="/docs/quality/training-and-gauges-refusals" title="Training and gauges refusals" description="Every message and what to do." />

<NextStep href="/docs/quality/ncr-and-capa" title="Handle nonconformances and CAPA" description="The NCR raised from a calibration." />

<NextStep href="/docs/quality/training" title="Training records and the training gate" description="Who may sign." />

</NextSteps>