Industry Compliance · 5 min read
What Customer Auditors Actually Check on Calibration
Auditors are more predictable than they seem. On calibration, the same handful of threads get pulled every time — so you can prepare for them directly.
Part of our guide to Industry Compliance & Calibration.
The reliable questions
Across AS9100, ISO 13485, and IATF audits, expect to be asked to show:
- Traceability of the standards behind your calibrations
- Certificates with data and uncertainty, not just a PASS
- Interval justification (and evidence of review)
- A documented out-of-tolerance impact assessment — actually used
- That your calibration supplier is competent (accreditation + scope)
- Control of calibration status and no overdue instruments in use
How to be ready
Keep certificates, the equipment master list, and interval rationales retrievable in minutes, and have one real OOT event documented end to end as proof your process works. Using an accredited lab whose scope covers your equipment answers the supplier-competence thread before it is even asked. Preparation here is mostly about retrieval speed and having the evidence exist in the first place.
Common questions
What is the most common calibration finding?
Two recur constantly: certificates without data/uncertainty where they were required, and intervals with no documented justification or review. Both are straightforward to fix before an audit.