Why did the document supplied with a new tool change from a “calibration certificate” to a “declaration of conformance”?

The documents' roles changed, not just their names

ISO 6789:2003 addressed tool requirements and calibration procedures in the same standard, and a new tool could be supplied with a calibration certificate. In 2017, design and manufacturing conformance requirements were placed in Part 1, while traceable calibration of individual tools and measurement uncertainty were assigned to Part 2.

The reason for the change is explained in the Part 1 foreword: calibration certificates previously supplied by manufacturers did not necessarily provide enough information to support traceable calibration. Even when a document is called a “calibration certificate” and contains measurement figures, readers still need to understand the results' traceability and uncertainty to determine which questions the document can answer.

Part 1 therefore removed the calibration certificate requirements and introduced requirements for a declaration of conformance. Part 2 specifies the contents of calibration certificates. A declaration still identifies the tool, reports observed values, and states whether those values are within the permissible deviation. It is not simply an assurance with no measurement data.

How should earlier certificates be understood?

This change does not declare every earlier certificate invalid. When reviewing a document issued to ISO 6789:2003, first confirm that your requirements accept that edition, then assess it against the procedures of that edition and the actual records. The 2003 edition did not require W and W′, later introduced in Part 2, to be reported for each tool. Missing those two fields alone is not a reason to reject the original measurement results.

Equally, renaming an earlier document does not establish conformance with the 2017 edition. Check the edition, measurement procedures, and document contents together. If you need a Part 2 calibration certificate, confirm that the relevant calibration and uncertainty assessment have actually been completed.

Can a new tool still come with a calibration certificate?

The 2017 edition does not prohibit manufacturers from supplying calibration certificates. For conforming tools, Part 1, Clause 5.2, permits delivery of either a declaration of conformance or a calibration certificate issued to Part 2. Both may also be supplied where the intended use calls for them.

When ordering, go beyond “Please include a certificate.” State whether you need confirmation of conformance at delivery or calibration results and uncertainty for the individual tool, and include the standard's part and year. This lets the supplier prepare the appropriate information and gives the recipient a clear basis for reading it.