Need Ideas, CNC program storage and control.

[speedboarder9]

How do you guys and gals control your NC programs?

I'm trying to figure out a way to keep the guys here at the shop from editing the proven programs to run the way they want it to. I'm all for trying to make things better and faster but we have to prove that it's not happening to the AS9100 auditor. Any ideas are welcome and appreciated. Thank you.

[txcncman]

I don't think you have to "prove" that. Maybe the auditor is asking about it. How do you "prove" a machinist actually measured a part during quality control? You can't. You take his word for it. How do you prove that a given part was cut from a given lot of material? You can't. You take someone else's word that they did just that. What you can do is spot check to verify their honesty and then fire them if they have lied. What you have to "prove" for quality purposes is traceability and documentation. Put in writing a company policy of who is allowed to make program changes and how it is to be documented and that any they vary from that process will be disciplined and/or terminated. Haven each employee (every single one including the receptionist) sign a statement that they have read and understand the policy. Keep that acknowledgment in an employee file. Fire the first person that violates the policy and document the termination process.

What you have to "prove" for quality purposes is that you are doing what your quality manual says you are going to do. If you don't want to do something, get it out of your quality manual. If you are doing something, make sure it is in your quality manual.