Scheduled Calibration – Shedding Light on Some Unknown Facts of Planned Tuning

There are some people who might come across the term ‘Calibration’ only through the labels present on measuring systems and devices, which display the last date when the equipment was calibrated. Many people, on the other hand, remain unaware of any such term until they find out that the equipment they intend to use at the work floor is undergoing calibration process.

When it comes to calibration of the measuring systems and other equipment, the overabundance of important information can make the learning process tad challenging. For the measuring devices as well as systems to work in an accurate manner and produce reliable results, it becomes necessary to understand the basics and importance of scheduling calibration.

What is Calibration?

Calibration can be understood as the process of establishing a numerical relationship between the discerned output of the measuring system and the standardized value of the feature being measured. In simple understandable language, it is basically a procedure that defines the steps required for ensuring the accuracy as well as the reliability of the measuring procedure.

Normally, a system or a device is considered properly calibrated when its measurement results range within the preset range of known values. If the figures are not within the predetermined range, certain adjustments need to be made for bringing the readings as close as possible to the known value. The inexpensive measuring devices, which do not allow for any adjustments, have to be simply discarded when the measurements go outside the acceptable range of the known values.

Is there a Need to Calibrate?

Generally, people think that the expensive measuring systems are often accurate and reliable when it comes to measurement results, and do not require calibration. As a matter of fact, the price of such equipment has very little, or absolutely nothing, to do with whether it requires calibration or not.

Even when the companies design these systems for stable and long-term accuracy, there are several factors that can affect its calibration. Simple things like rough handling during shipment, temperature swings, wrong operation or accidents at workplace are sufficient for establishing a need for scheduling recalibration. It can be an expensive affair to reject the produced parts as they do not measure as per the specifications, when the actual problem is with the measuring device. Only an appropriately scheduled calibration can fix the problem that causes the machine to give wrong readings.

The Frequency of Scheduling Calibration

Almost any kind of measuring device comes with a certain measurement range as well as resolution. In addition to this, the manufacturer’s specifications also mention the accurate measurement chart, which the device is pre-calibrated before being shipped. One must ensure that the device or the system purchased meets the verified measurements after the receipt and before being used in the workplace. Once verified, these machines can be used and be calibrated as per the recommended schedule from the manufacturer, or as and when required.

The Recommended vs. Required Game

The correct scheduling of device calibration can have a direct impact on the business. In case of the calibration schedule recommended by the manufacturer, the recommendations are generally based on the industry or international standards, years of testing conducted by the manufacturer, and the natural quality of the device. However, it is the historical data and the manner in which the system is used that helps in determining the need for and the frequency of scheduling calibration.

A number of other factors like workplace environment, the tolerance level of the parts, natural stability and regulatory agencies that decide the frequency of scheduling calibration. Apart from this, regular maintenance of the systems helps in ensuring less frequency of calibration in comparison to the equipment that is maintained in a poor manner. Correct frequency of calibration ensures consistent performance of the measurement system, which, of course, is of utmost importance to any business.

On the whole, the decision for scheduling calibration of the measurement device can affect the business in the long run. Failure to define a correct calibration frequency can only result in inaccurate outcomes, which, in turn, only increase the amount of scrap and reduce overall efficiency. Therefore, it becomes important to carefully monitor the performance of measuring system and establish a correct frequency that is a perfect balance between the manufacturer’s recommendations and personal requirements.