WHAT IS CALIBRATION AND WHY CALIBRATION OF YOUR INSTRUMENT IS IMPORTANT

June 23, 2020

In the world of measurement technology, calibration is the documented comparison of the measurement device to be calibrated against a traceable reference device. The reference standard may be also referred to as a “calibrator.” Logically, the reference is more accurate than the device to be calibrated. The reference device should be also calibrated traceably.

Calibration of your measuring instruments has two objectives

• It checks the accuracy of the instrument
• it determines the traceability of the measurement.

 In practice, calibration also includes repair of the device if it is out of calibration. A report is provided by the calibration expert, which shows the error in measurements with the measuring device before and after the calibration. When you make calibration and compare two devices, you may find out there is some difference between the two. So, it is pretty logical that you may want to adjust the device under test to measure correctly. This process is often called adjustment or trimming. Formally, calibration does not include adjustment but is a separate process.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD A MEASUREMENT DEVICE BE CALIBRATED?

Some of the things you should consider when setting the calibration interval are, but not limited to:

• Criticality of the measurement in question
• Manufacturer’s recommendation
• After any mechanical or electrical shock
• Stability history of the instrument
• Regulatory requirements and quality systems
• Consequences and costs of a failed calibration
• Other considerations

For most industries, the calibration frequency is to calibrate annually.

As you gain results from calibration tests, you will be in a position to potentially adjust the frequency of calibrations, and/or upgrade to more robust measuring instruments if needed. Most calibration laboratories supply a printed calibration certificate for the customer to retain as proof of quality standards. A calibration certificate includes the result of the comparison and all other relevant information of the calibration, such as equipment used, environmental conditions, signatories, date of calibration, certificate number, the uncertainty of the calibration, etc. At General Tech Services, we keep track of all the instruments and their calibration requirements customer wise. Our systems are capable of proactively reminding customers regarding the due dates of all their instruments.

The cost of calibration is an investment and the potential result would be an incorrect reading as the cost of not making the investment. The hidden costs and risks associated with the un-calibrated measuring device could be much higher than the cost of calibration. Therefore, it is recommended that the measuring instruments are calibrated regularly by a reputable company to ensure that errors associated with the measurements are in the acceptable range.

WHY CALIBRATION IS IMPORTANT?

The accuracy of all measuring devices degrades over time. This is typically caused by normal wear and tear. However, changes in accuracy can also be caused by electric or mechanical shock or a hazardous manufacturing environment (oils, metal chips, etc.) The goal of calibration is to minimize any measurement uncertainty by ensuring the accuracy of test equipment. Calibration quantifies and controls errors or uncertainties within measurement processes to an acceptable level. The bottom line is that calibration improves the accuracy of the measuring device. Accurate measuring devices improve product quality and your business.

ISO/IEC 17025 is the International Standard for the accreditation of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. It includes quality management system requirements along with technical requirements. In the UK, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is provided by UKAS. So, often calibration performed by an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory is referred to as ‘UKAS Calibration’.

General Tech Services has the widest EIAC accreditated 17025 scope in UAE. You don't need to send your instruments to many laboratories for 17025 calibration, just 1 laboratory.

In summary, calibration is vitally important wherever measurements are important; it enables users and businesses to have confidence in the results that they monitor record and subsequently control. Measurement validity is important for many reasons, including safety and quality. For best results and reliability, make sure the uncertainty of the calibration is small enough. Or use a calibrator that has accuracy specification several times better than the device under test. Finally, setting calibration tolerances and frequency should be determined by several factors, including instrument criticality. General Tech Services has the capability to cater to all the calibration, testing, measurement, and repair needs of all industries and businesses. We offer onsite calibration services in all of UAE and Saudi Arabia. General Tech Services is the Authorised Service and Calibration center for Mitutoyo, Gagemaker, WIKA DH Budenberg, Snap On Torque tools & Mark 10. Our experienced technicians take utmost care of your instruments for best calibration and repair results within a small turnaround time. We do pickup and drop of instruments also.