by Christopher L. Grachanen
The following is a case study involving an accredited calibration supplier, hereby referred to as the cal lab, an accreditation testing facility hereby referred to as the test lab, an accreditation provider (AP) that accredits both the cal lab and the test lab and a Metrology subject matter expert (SME). It is sufficed to say all parties are seasoned players within their respected fields and possess the necessary resources to adequately perform their respected tasks. The following case study will chronologically relate events surrounding a complaint made to the AP by the SME regarding calibration services provided by the cal lab for the test lab. All events related are documented by electronic correspondences i.e. e-mails and attachments. The following case study is narrated from the perspective of the SME and strives to enlighten readers as to some of the challenges one may encounter when lodging a complaint against an accredited calibration supplier as well as underscoring the worn-out adage “let the buyer beware.”
