Bryan Christiansen Bio Metrology Equipment Calibration: The What’s, Why’s, and How’s Calibration is the key to accurate measurement Published: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - 12:02 Comment Rss Send Article (Must Login) Print Author Archive A n important part of production is to carefully monitor and control temperature, speed, volume, weight, or mass. To ensure these measurements are always accurate, manufacturers need to calibrate their equipment and instruments regularly. Devising a proper equipment calibration schedule can be a challenge, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But don’t fret; this article will explain: • What calibration is • What are the main standards and types of equipment calibration • The basics of the calibration process • How to set up a proper equipment calibration program  What is equipment calibration? Calibration is the process of evaluating and adjusting measurement devices to achieve true accuracy. When equipment is calibrated, you can be sure that the readings are accurate and precise.  A calibration program will need to be carefully planned and executed to be successful. There are two main categories for calibrating equipment:  1. Absolute calibration is where you compare the reading of your instrument to a known reference value. For example, you place a 1 kg mass on a scale and adjust the reading to 1 kg.  2. Relative calibration is where you compare instrument values to another instrument that is already calibrated. One example is calibrating a pressure sensor with another pressure gauge that you can trust. Why calibrate your equipment? Using uncalibrated devices is not only a costly waste of time, but it can also be dangerous. Here are a few of the reasons why you should prioritize proper equipment calibration. Product quality and safety For one, product quality can be affected (e.g., improper recipe quantities, improper weights). Many products depend on precise additions of different materials. Many of us have slipped up while baking chocolate chip cookies—too much butter caused the cookie texture to be too soft. If we don’t know precisely how much butter we added, how can we adjust? This can be massively important in food and drug manufacturing, where imprecision can cause health risks to consumers.  Process control Another way that calibration can affect your operation is through process control.  Say you need to use an oven in your process. A drifting temperature sensor could spell a disaster, leading to overheating or not fully drying a product.  Cost savings An alternative way to think about equipment calibration is in dollars.  There’s a cost associated with almost everything you’re measuring at your plant. Temperature costs money to maintain. The flow of raw materials or products is money entering or exiting a process. Inaccurate electrical data could be a hidden cost in your energy bill. The types of costs go on and on. To address this, you want your operation to produce high-quality, reliable data. This is why you’ll need to calibrate your instruments regularly. Different types of equipment calibration There are many types of equipment calibrations. Each serves a specific need across a wide variety of industries. 1. Pressure calibration Pressure calibration is required in many industries working with gases, steam, or hydraulics. The need may arise from industry requirements or a desire to control the process.  For these applications, pressure sensors, pressure gauges, and barometers are typically the devices needing calibration. The calibration can be done using either the absolute or the relative method.  2. Temperature calibration In many industries, temperature must be measured precisely. It is vital that thermometers and temperature sensors accurately reflect the process values. Devices most often calibrated for temperature are thermometers, temperature sensors, and thermistors. Temperature is typically calibrated by placing the thermometer in a stable reference environment, and then comparing the reading to a standard or reference thermometer.  Note: Electronic temperature sensors need to have both the electronics and the sensor calibrated. 3. Flow calibration Process flow rate through a pipe or vessel is measured using a flow meter. These flow meters often require precision for the desired flow rates so processes can be controlled effectively and safely. Many chemical processes need a precise flow of material at a specified rate during a certain process. If the material isn’t delivered in a precise and steady flow, the consequences can be disastrous.  For these reasons (and many more), flow-meter calibration should never be overlooked. 4. Electrical calibration By “electrical calibration” we mean ensuring that any instrument used to measure electrical properties is showing accurate measurements. This includes reading voltage, current, resistance, inductance, capacitance, time, and frequency.  To calibrate electrical devices, you will need to use specialized precision instruments to verify that the units under test (UUT) are reading properly. A precision digital multimeter can accomplish many of the calibrations required.  5. Mechanical calibration Mechanical calibration is used to correct any instrument measuring mechanical properties like mass, volume, density, force, torque, flatness, and vibration. Repetitive use, mechanical stress, and temperature cycles can all cause mechanical instruments to drift. Under a temperature-controlled atmosphere, either absolute or relative calibration can be used, depending on the device and the needs of the tester.  Asset calibration standards Many well-accepted industry standards will require the factory to regularly calibrate their devices as well as maintain calibration records.  One such standard is ISO 9001, which sets certain principles for managing the quality of products and services.  Aside from ISO 9001, there are other standards that you will need to follow, based on the industry you operate in: • US CFR 21—Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that outline calibration requirements similar to ISO 9001. • ISO 17025—A standard used in laboratories to show they generate valid results.  • US CFR 40 (EPA rules)—These focus on protecting the environment.  • NFPA—This standard promotes safe processes through inspection, as well as advocacy on fire and electrical hazards. Beyond that, each instrument needs traceability, meaning a chain of calibrations all the way to an SI standard (which is just another term for the metric system). Standard equipment calibration process The process of equipment calibration depends on the type of instrument being calibrated and could have many case-specific steps.  However, that doesn’t prevent us from presenting a general process, which is shown in the flowchart below: Flow diagram for the calibration process. Source: Cal Lab magazine Recall that there are two main methods of calibration—absolute and relative.  The absolute method uses a known reference (such as the boiling point of water), while the relative method relies on another instrument that is already calibrated. The basic process for calibration is to compare the instrument with a known value. A relative calibration method might look like this: 1. Expose a pressure gauge and a trusted calibrated pressure sensor to a common pressure source. 2. Check the reading once the device measures a known value. 3. Adjust the device being calibrated if it’s measuring above or below the known value. 4. Change the reading so it matches the known number. The method for changing the readings on devices can differ, but in general, there are two ways:  1. The mechanical method: twisting a knob or tightening a screw 2. The electrical method: done through a calibration instrument or the device’s user interface   That being said, let’s also mention how, these days, you can buy devices that can be automatically calibrated. During the calibration process, always check the tolerance of the device being calibrated and compare it to the device calibrating it. The calibrating device must have a larger tolerance.  For example, if you want to calibrate a gauge to 0.1 mm tolerance, the calibrating device should have 0.01 or more tolerance (a rule of thumb is 10 times more). The tolerance level required will vary according to industry and country. How to improve your equipment calibration program Prioritize calibration, and give it importance in your maintenance shop culture. If you don’t act like it’s important, your staff won’t, either. If you haven’t already, review your existing calibration program, and consider these questions: • Are the current calibrations showing value? • Is there anything that could be automated or reduced? • Do you need to add more calibrations to your schedule? Take a look at your maintenance schedule and plan out your calibrations if you haven’t already done so. Also, make sure you’re giving the technicians enough time to properly complete calibration activities.  A CMMS can be a big help in developing and executing a calibration program. It can automatically schedule all those pesky calibration tasks and track their completion. By looking at maintenance logs, you’ll be able to spot problematic instruments that are drifting more than others.  Commit to regular calibration You need to be able to trust your process data. Calibrated instruments will deliver high-quality data you can count on. Committing to regular calibration schedules will help you: • Produce high-quality products • Cut costs and saving money • Increase revenue and profitability • Reduce stress  If you want to find out more about asset management, equipment reliability, or equipment performance, browse the Limble blog. First published Oct. 22, 2022, on the Limble blog. Quality Digest does not charge readers for its content. We believe that industry news is important for you to do your job, and Quality Digest supports businesses of all types. However, someone has to pay for this content. And that’s where advertising comes in. Most people consider ads a nuisance, but they do serve a useful function besides allowing media companies to stay afloat. They keep you aware of new products and services relevant to your industry. All ads in Quality Digest apply directly to products and services that most of our readers need. You won’t see automobile or health supplement ads. Our PROMISE: Quality Digest only displays static ads that never overlay or cover up content. They never get in your way. They are there for you to read, or not. So please consider turning off your ad blocker for our site. Thanks, Quality Digest Discuss ( 0 ) Hide Comments Comment About The Author Bryan Christiansen Bryan Christiansen is the founder and CEO of Limble CMMS. Limble is a modern, easy-to-use mobile CMMS software that takes the stress and chaos out of maintenance by helping managers organize, automate, and streamline their maintenance operations.

A n important part of production is to carefully monitor and control temperature, speed, volume, weight, or mass. To ensure these measurements are always accurate, manufacturers need to calibrate their equipment and instruments regularly. Temperature Standard Thermometer

Devising a proper equipment calibration schedule can be a challenge, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But don’t fret; this article will explain: • What calibration is • What are the main standards and types of equipment calibration • The basics of the calibration process • How to set up a proper equipment calibration program 

Calibration is the process of evaluating and adjusting measurement devices to achieve true accuracy. When equipment is calibrated, you can be sure that the readings are accurate and precise. 

A calibration program will need to be carefully planned and executed to be successful. There are two main categories for calibrating equipment:  1. Absolute calibration is where you compare the reading of your instrument to a known reference value. For example, you place a 1 kg mass on a scale and adjust the reading to 1 kg.  2. Relative calibration is where you compare instrument values to another instrument that is already calibrated. One example is calibrating a pressure sensor with another pressure gauge that you can trust.

Using uncalibrated devices is not only a costly waste of time, but it can also be dangerous. Here are a few of the reasons why you should prioritize proper equipment calibration.

For one, product quality can be affected (e.g., improper recipe quantities, improper weights). Many products depend on precise additions of different materials.

Many of us have slipped up while baking chocolate chip cookies—too much butter caused the cookie texture to be too soft. If we don’t know precisely how much butter we added, how can we adjust?

This can be massively important in food and drug manufacturing, where imprecision can cause health risks to consumers. 

Another way that calibration can affect your operation is through process control. 

Say you need to use an oven in your process. A drifting temperature sensor could spell a disaster, leading to overheating or not fully drying a product. 

An alternative way to think about equipment calibration is in dollars. 

There’s a cost associated with almost everything you’re measuring at your plant. Temperature costs money to maintain. The flow of raw materials or products is money entering or exiting a process. Inaccurate electrical data could be a hidden cost in your energy bill. The types of costs go on and on.

To address this, you want your operation to produce high-quality, reliable data. This is why you’ll need to calibrate your instruments regularly.

There are many types of equipment calibrations. Each serves a specific need across a wide variety of industries.

Pressure calibration is required in many industries working with gases, steam, or hydraulics. The need may arise from industry requirements or a desire to control the process. 

For these applications, pressure sensors, pressure gauges, and barometers are typically the devices needing calibration. The calibration can be done using either the absolute or the relative method. 

In many industries, temperature must be measured precisely. It is vital that thermometers and temperature sensors accurately reflect the process values.

Devices most often calibrated for temperature are thermometers, temperature sensors, and thermistors.

Temperature is typically calibrated by placing the thermometer in a stable reference environment, and then comparing the reading to a standard or reference thermometer. 

Note: Electronic temperature sensors need to have both the electronics and the sensor calibrated.

Process flow rate through a pipe or vessel is measured using a flow meter. These flow meters often require precision for the desired flow rates so processes can be controlled effectively and safely.

Many chemical processes need a precise flow of material at a specified rate during a certain process. If the material isn’t delivered in a precise and steady flow, the consequences can be disastrous. 

For these reasons (and many more), flow-meter calibration should never be overlooked.

By “electrical calibration” we mean ensuring that any instrument used to measure electrical properties is showing accurate measurements. This includes reading voltage, current, resistance, inductance, capacitance, time, and frequency. 

To calibrate electrical devices, you will need to use specialized precision instruments to verify that the units under test (UUT) are reading properly. A precision digital multimeter can accomplish many of the calibrations required. 

Mechanical calibration is used to correct any instrument measuring mechanical properties like mass, volume, density, force, torque, flatness, and vibration.

Repetitive use, mechanical stress, and temperature cycles can all cause mechanical instruments to drift. Under a temperature-controlled atmosphere, either absolute or relative calibration can be used, depending on the device and the needs of the tester. 

Many well-accepted industry standards will require the factory to regularly calibrate their devices as well as maintain calibration records. 

One such standard is ISO 9001, which sets certain principles for managing the quality of products and services. 

Aside from ISO 9001, there are other standards that you will need to follow, based on the industry you operate in: • US CFR 21—Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations that outline calibration requirements similar to ISO 9001. • ISO 17025—A standard used in laboratories to show they generate valid results.  • US CFR 40 (EPA rules)—These focus on protecting the environment.  • NFPA—This standard promotes safe processes through inspection, as well as advocacy on fire and electrical hazards.

Beyond that, each instrument needs traceability, meaning a chain of calibrations all the way to an SI standard (which is just another term for the metric system).

The process of equipment calibration depends on the type of instrument being calibrated and could have many case-specific steps. 

However, that doesn’t prevent us from presenting a general process, which is shown in the flowchart below:

Flow diagram for the calibration process. Source: Cal Lab magazine

Recall that there are two main methods of calibration—absolute and relative. 

The absolute method uses a known reference (such as the boiling point of water), while the relative method relies on another instrument that is already calibrated.

The basic process for calibration is to compare the instrument with a known value. A relative calibration method might look like this: 1. Expose a pressure gauge and a trusted calibrated pressure sensor to a common pressure source. 2. Check the reading once the device measures a known value. 3. Adjust the device being calibrated if it’s measuring above or below the known value. 4. Change the reading so it matches the known number.

The method for changing the readings on devices can differ, but in general, there are two ways:  1. The mechanical method: twisting a knob or tightening a screw 2. The electrical method: done through a calibration instrument or the device’s user interface  

That being said, let’s also mention how, these days, you can buy devices that can be automatically calibrated.

During the calibration process, always check the tolerance of the device being calibrated and compare it to the device calibrating it. The calibrating device must have a larger tolerance. 

For example, if you want to calibrate a gauge to 0.1 mm tolerance, the calibrating device should have 0.01 or more tolerance (a rule of thumb is 10 times more). The tolerance level required will vary according to industry and country.

Prioritize calibration, and give it importance in your maintenance shop culture. If you don’t act like it’s important, your staff won’t, either.

If you haven’t already, review your existing calibration program, and consider these questions: • Are the current calibrations showing value? • Is there anything that could be automated or reduced? • Do you need to add more calibrations to your schedule?

Take a look at your maintenance schedule and plan out your calibrations if you haven’t already done so. Also, make sure you’re giving the technicians enough time to properly complete calibration activities. 

A CMMS can be a big help in developing and executing a calibration program. It can automatically schedule all those pesky calibration tasks and track their completion. By looking at maintenance logs, you’ll be able to spot problematic instruments that are drifting more than others. 

You need to be able to trust your process data. Calibrated instruments will deliver high-quality data you can count on. Committing to regular calibration schedules will help you: • Produce high-quality products • Cut costs and saving money • Increase revenue and profitability • Reduce stress 

If you want to find out more about asset management, equipment reliability, or equipment performance, browse the Limble blog.

First published Oct. 22, 2022, on the Limble blog.

Quality Digest does not charge readers for its content. We believe that industry news is important for you to do your job, and Quality Digest supports businesses of all types.

However, someone has to pay for this content. And that’s where advertising comes in. Most people consider ads a nuisance, but they do serve a useful function besides allowing media companies to stay afloat. They keep you aware of new products and services relevant to your industry. All ads in Quality Digest apply directly to products and services that most of our readers need. You won’t see automobile or health supplement ads. Our PROMISE: Quality Digest only displays static ads that never overlay or cover up content. They never get in your way. They are there for you to read, or not.

So please consider turning off your ad blocker for our site.

Bryan Christiansen is the founder and CEO of Limble CMMS. Limble is a modern, easy-to-use mobile CMMS software that takes the stress and chaos out of maintenance by helping managers organize, automate, and streamline their maintenance operations.

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