If you’re a building product
manufacturer implementing or working within an internal quality assurance
program, you’ve come across the term “calibration,” and you know there are a
lot of calibration service providers out there.
Before addressing what to look
for in a calibration service provider, I’d like to define calibration in
greater detail. According to The Quality Calibration Handbook: Developing and Managing
a Calibration Program by
Jay. L. Bucher, calibration is “the process of verifying the capability and
performance of an item of measuring and test equipment by comparison totraceable measurement standards.
Calibration is performed with the item being calibrated in its normal operating
configuration — as the normal operator would use it. The calibration process
uses traceable external
stimuli, measurement standards or artifacts as needed to verify the
performance. Calibration provides assurance that the instrument is capable of
making measurements to its performance specification when it is correctly
used.”
The critical requirement for
any calibration service is that it be traceable to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
standards. According to NIST, traceability can be defined as “an
unbroken record of documentation (documentation traceability) or an unbroken
chain of measurements and associated uncertainties (metrological
traceability).”
The item’s final
measurement will have traceability to NIST standards if the following
conditions are met:
o The
maintenance of an unbroken chain of measurements back to NIST standards.
o Each
step of the chain has known and documented measurement uncertainties.
o There is
a quality system to ensure the item and the associated measurement equipment
maintain their measurement uncertainty and accuracy.
As noted in NIST’s definition, measurement
uncertainty plays an
important role in traceability. However, it’s a complex topic that would
require another blog to explain, so I recommend you check out this handy quick
guide from NPL for
more information.
If your provider doesn’t claim
traceability to NIST, then their measurements can’t be related to measurements
made with equipment that is traceable, and the measurement loses meaning.
Sometimes the original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) can provide calibration services. If their work is
traceable, using their services is a good way to go: they know the equipment,
have spare parts on hand and usually have short turnaround times.
However, a third party or
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) may require that only ISO 17025-accredited
or nuclear-audited providers calibrate your equipment. In these cases, don’t
hesitate to get recommendations from them. You can also post questions to a
forum, as it’s possible someone has already asked the same question. I like elsmar.com/forum. Tap people in your LinkedIn
network for recommendations and advice, too.
When considering calibration
providers, look beyond cost to quality and customer service. Keep in mind the
adage “you get what you pay for.” Be upfront about what you expect the
calibration provider to do, and put it in writing. A quality calibration lab
will have the expertise and service to assist you in filling in your knowledge
gaps.
If you have a lot of equipment
requiring calibration, consider a larger calibration provider that’s willing to
take on some of the administrative work or provide quantity discounts in return
for the guaranteed revenue.
Calibration can be a
complicated and complex process; however, a good service provider can help
simplify and lessen your burden.
If you’re seeking a calibration
provider, here are a few examples of providers with broad scope calibrations:
o Transcat
To find an accredited
calibration laboratory for a specific type of equipment and/or location, use
these search sites:
o ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board: ACLASS and FQS
Accredited Companies
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