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Why Calibrate?

Calibration can most simply be described as the activity where an instrument being tested is compared to a known reference value.

All instruments, even those of the highest quality need calibration at fixed intervals to ensure they are performing accurately. Calibration is most frequently required following the purchase of a new instrument or when a fixed period of time or a specified number of operating hours has elapsed. This interval may be re-evaluated and decreased if the instrument is being used in a critical process or application. Calibration is also highly recommended if an instrument is subjected to an unanticipated shock or vibration that may alter the specified limits. Further impacting on the stability of an instrument is its application and the environment within which it operates. Fluctuating temperatures and harsh manufacturing conditions (dirt and dust) will obviously take their toal. Even instruments manufactured by the same supplier can vary in their performance over time. Another misunderstanding is that new instruments do not require calibration. This is not true. Just because an instrument is brand new does not mean that it will perform within the required specification.

So why is calibration so important?

Disregarding calibration can lead to unscheduled production or machine down time, product or process quality issues and potentially product recall or rework.

Today, most companies are scrambling to find ways of reducing their costs without compromising on quality. Calibration contributes to productivity improvements by introducing more cost effective maintenance and asset management programmes across your organisation.

Industry sectors such as food and beverage and pharmaceuticals are highly regulated and so calibration becomes even more critical in terms of meeting product quality, traceability and quality certifications.

Documentation is a growing concern for many organisations, particularly those that possess a relatively high number of instruments and who therefore need to perform a lot of calibrations at regular intervals. Two highly regulated industry sectors found this to be a key challenge for them namely pharma and oil, gas & petrochemicals.

This problem is particularly acute in those industries where instrument calibration is managed manually or on a semi-manual basis.

In response to these necessities, Trantest will streamline your company’s calibration processes, allowing you to focus on your core business activities.