Is calibration necessary for your business? Of course, the devices used to measure must be accurate. From weather to the medical field, automotive to agriculture, obtaining precise measurements is essential to making decisions and performing tasks.
These measurement devices must be verified that they are giving the correct data. Calibration is the process of ascertaining the readings of an instrument. Laboratories rely on calibration to verify that the measurements they perform are consistent.
When you are using your equipment regularly, it can degrade, which shortens the accurate calibration of that instrument. Let’s look at why regular calibration is so important to your business.
What is Calibration?
A calibration uses your instrument to compare a known measurement, the standard, and the measurement.
The accuracy of your instrument will be different from the accuracy of the standard. This is because standards organizations set acceptable accuracy ratios, and your instrument must meet the requirements.
The calibration of your measuring instruments has two objectives. First, it checks the instrument’s accuracy and determines the measurement’s traceability. Second, calibrations work differently for different instruments, and an accredited lab can provide the standards and requirements for your tools.
Keep Processes Safe
The measured quantities must be accurate to maintain product safety when measuring any parameter. For example, measuring a force or electric current could pose a safety hazard if it is not valid. Likewise, if a component on a vehicle were to fail at a specific measured force, but that measurement was performed with an instrument that was not calibrated to ensure accuracy, an accurate failure analysis couldn’t be performed. Small changes in numbers in a science lab that works with volatile chemicals can quickly put your staff in danger.
Calibration Reduces Costs from Errors
In manufacturing, a production process resulting in defects can be very costly. Minor errors in measurement, such as the temperature of the molded plastic parts, cause them to be set improperly and can be faulty. The process would need to be stopped, restarted, and have parts remade. This is expensive in time and resources, or worse, the defective parts could get to the customers. The sensors monitoring these processes should be accurate to help reduce the potential for manufacturing defects. Calibrating gauges and instrumentation will minimize the possibility of production defects.
Calibration Maintains Certification
In several industries, certification is a must for specific tasks. In this case, you must have up-to-date calibrations on your instruments to stay in business—a calibration certificate documents vital information about a piece of equipment and the details surrounding its calibration.
Calibration certificates must contain certain information to assure compliance with the ISO 17025 Calibration. For example, a calibration report gives a pass or a fail for each specific function. In addition, they adjust a device that does not meet the specifications and provide detailed information.
ISO 17025 Accredited Laboratory
An accredited calibration laboratory is essential since it ensures it will come back correctly calibrated. ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation is an internationally recognized standard, and an outside independent agency accredits the lab. They can technically help your lab and are competent in your instrumentation. If you do your due diligence, you will have a stress-free experience with your calibration service provider. Hidden costs and risks associated with uncalibrated measuring devices could be much higher than the calibration cost.
