Weighing and measuring equipment is used in industries ranging from pharmaceutical manufacturing to military contracts to ensure compliance, precision, and safety. Unfortunately, due to normal wear and tear, every measuring instrument loses its effectiveness over time. Calibrating your measuring equipment has various advantages, including increased instrument life, more precise results, simpler certification, and lower expenses.
When it comes to calibrating your equipment, you need a calibration laboratory you can rely on for efficiency and peace of mind. Here are some things to think about when selecting calibration services for your equipment.
1. Accuracy
You want the measuring equipment at your company to be as accurate as possible. Accurate calibration equipment can deliver more exact results, increasing your equipment’s effectiveness.
An accurate calibration lab will either send a trained technician to your company or calibrate your equipment in a laboratory. The technician will measure your instrument against a standard during the calibration process to see if the measurements match.
If your equipment provides a different reading than the standard and is outside the standard accuracy ratio, the technician will determine the issue. Then, they will make adjustments to your instrument until the reading is accurate.
In addition, a good calibration lab will provide certificates on the services performed so you can verify their testing. This practice increases transparency and gives you peace of mind about your measuring instruments.
2. Capabilities
Precision calibration is critical for assessing the accuracy and effectiveness of your equipment. With so many sectors relying on metrology equipment, calibration laboratories must have the skills and capabilities to operate with a wide range of equipment. Calibration of a thermometer, for example, differs from calibration of a sensor.
A reputable calibration service provider can fulfill all of your calibration requirements, including:
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Calibration of Pressure and Vacuum
Pressure gages are widely used in food and beverage processing plants, labs, oil refineries, and other scientific settings. Pressure and vacuum calibration employ computerized pressure modules to determine if pressure gages produce reliable data, assisting organizations in meeting customer expectations and adhering to industry standards. -
Mass and torque calibration
Torque devices are used during production when the automotive and machine manufacturing sectors need to measure torque. Manufacturers can guarantee their devices transmit the proper tension to the fastener by performing frequent torque and mass calibration. -
Calibration of Electronics
Electrical characteristics such as current, voltage, resistance, time, and frequency must be measured in a variety of businesses. Electrical calibration is performed in calibration labs using calibration equipment that has been certified against standards from independent regulatory authorities. -
Surface Plate Calibration and Resurfacing
For accurate measurements, surface plates must fulfill flatness standards. These plates may have peaks or depressions from wear, indicating that they should be resurfaced on a regular basis. Surface Plate Calibration and Refinishing are critical for ensuring that goods satisfy industry requirements.
3. Accreditation
Another quality to look for in a calibration lab is whether it meets third-party accreditation standards. It’s crucial to use a calibration service provider with accreditation from third-party standardization organizations. This is because accreditation ensures that a lab’s calibrations are accurate. When you partner with an accredited calibration laboratory, you can be assured they meet quality assurance requirements.
Look for a calibration service provider with accreditations from several standardization bodies. Some of the most valuable accreditations for a calibration lab include:
ISO/IEC 17025
This accreditation comes from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and provides requirements for a laboratory’s competence, consistency and impartiality. Holding ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is widely recognized as a primary sign of a laboratory’s competence. The standard deals with five main categories — general, management system, structural, resources and process.
This standard is highly important for any calibration laboratory to hold, as it contributes to a lab’s industry reputation and promotes efficiency, performance and compliance.
ISO 9001
Another significant standard is ISO 9001. Although ISO 9001 is less specifically targeted at calibration laboratories than ISO/IEC 17025, this widely-recognized standard is integral for implementing a quality management system (QMS). A QMS is a structure of processes designed to assist a business with continual improvement.
Any business interested in providing quality products can benefit from ISO 9001 accreditation. The standard requires that a company documents its procedures to create a QMS manual. Regular audits from a certification body are also part of the accreditation process.
ANSI/NCSL Z540-1
One last accreditation is a standard from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Conference of Standards Laboratories (NCSL).
The ANSI/NCSL Z540-1 Standard guides calibration laboratories regarding their measuring and test equipment. Accreditation with ANSI/NCSL Z540-1 involves testing a laboratory’s electrical, dimensional, mass-related, thermodynamic and frequency metrology testing equipment.
ANSI/NCSL Z540-1 accreditation increases confidence in calibration laboratories and their testing and measuring equipment.
4. Customer Service
Dedication to customer service is one of the best qualities in a calibration lab. Calibration must be performed regularly, sometimes as frequently as every few months, depending on the frequency of use. Developing a professional relationship with a full-service calibration service provider ensures the calibration process goes smoothly and provides peace of mind that your equipment meets expert standards.
Here are a few customer service benefits to look for in a calibration lab:
- Fast turnaround: When you need equipment calibration services but want to avoid costly downtime, look for a calibration company with fast turnaround times. You should be able to ask a calibration laboratory about how long it takes them to service equipment. Few manufacturers can afford to be without an essential piece of equipment for months as they wait for calibration. Look for a calibration laboratory that can complete the calibration in a few days.
- On-call emergency response: Emergency calibration is another service to look for in a calibration company. Whether your equipment developed an inaccurate reading overnight or you need to check for possible product contamination, getting quick calibration service is a significant benefit. Some calibration laboratories even offer emergency service calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
- Knowledgeable technicians: If you acquire on-site calibration services, you want technicians who understand the methods needed to calibrate your specific equipment. Search for a reputable calibration company with professionally trained technicians who can perform on-site calibration.
- Multiple ways to calibrate: Many calibration labs will perform field calibration, where they send a technician to your company’s location to perform the calibration on-site. While this method saves time on shipping, calibration may not work if temperature and humidity interfere with sensitive devices. Look for a calibration service provider that offers multiple calibration methods, including on-site and laboratory calibration. If the lab provides regional pickup and delivery, that’s another bonus.
5. Experience
You want the measuring equipment at your company to be as accurate as possible. Accurate calibration equipment can deliver more exact results, increasing your equipment’s effectiveness.
An accurate calibration lab will either send a trained technician to your company or calibrate your equipment in a laboratory. The technician will measure your instrument against a standard during the calibration process to see if the measurements match.
If your equipment provides a different reading than the standard and is outside the standard accuracy ratio, the technician will determine the issue. Then, they will make adjustments to your instrument until the reading is accurate.
In addition, a good calibration lab will provide certificates on the services performed so you can verify their testing. This practice increases transparency and gives you peace of mind about your measuring instruments.
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