Tool Calibration Software
 

I'm hoping you guys and gals can help me with small dilemma I have. I'm looking for a stand-alone software program, preferably Windows-based, that will help me track tool calibration requirements for the usual aircraft maintenance equipment such as torque wrenches, micrometres, gauges etc. Nothing fancy, just a simple easy-to-use program with read-only and editable functions. Also, do you have any ideas for a storage system for the hard-copy documents that gives ready access to a specific document for check and audit purposes. Thank you.

Hi Jack (Probably not the best opener for an aviation based forum!)

How about Excel?

You should be able to input all your tools, and with a simple formula, you could track the 'Due' dates for the calibration in a simple traffic light style system.

You should even be able to link calibration certs where applicable for easy recall for audits.

Access can be used to construct a database to what you want. At my place of work, we use a database developed in house, that tracks exactly what you want.

Reports are generated weekly of items due for cal/maintenance for the next x days. The generated work sheets are scanned and saved in PDF format , and are linked to the item that was serviced, cal reports are saved in as well, as well as any other information required, like purchase orders for parts and maintenance manuals.

Once the job is completed, the next due date is added, and the old job archived. All cal reports, or maintenance records can be retrieved at any time. New cal/maintenance tags can also be generated/printed.

All you need, is some one to code the database for you.

This is typically part of your QA system. Ideally, your calibration procedure should provide some type of record that can be stored in a database for future reference. The tool should also have a label showing the dates the calibration is valid for and a unique identification number. This information is often required as part of QA records to verify the tool used was properly calibrated.

Many thanks everyone, Dougie_diesel, the existing calibration list is on Excel and while it does everything required it is, for some reason, not held in high regard by auditors. Avtrician, never really thought of Access, will certainly look into it. riff_raff, our QA system is up and running and generally does well in audits - but the Excel-based calibration list is a favourite for comments.

SJ.

Depending on budget, I know one operator that uses this:
Calibration Control Pricing | Ape Software


A friend in the oil industry forwarded this:
Best Calibration Management Software | 2016 Reviews of the Most Popular Systems


W1

My office has got through FAA (recently) and EASA Audits, the ability to pull up cal reports impresses them, as does being able to get info out of the system.

If you've never done any database programming then stay away from Access (or any other database) because database programming requires some actual expertise, unlike spreadsheets and word processors where you can generally "wing it".

I'm guessing you're part of some maintenance or subpart G CAMO - until you get to really large organisations the best approach I've seen is simply to define the calibration requirements as maintenance schedules and then record the affected tools & test eqpt as items in the same system you use to manage the3 maintenance requirements for aircraft/engines etc. Calibration is really just a scheduled (preventive) maintenance task, and doing it this way allows the full record plus allocation of authorities, filing of certificates and recording of controlled procedures with a system that everyone should already KNOW how to use. It also allows the chief engineer (or whoever) to sign off a 24 hour extension if urgently needed, together with his/her justification for doing so.

£0.03 supplied,

PDR