Calibration Certificates: Look Closer Before Filing

About this Article
This article by Mike Hutchins is a revised version of that originally published in the October-December 2003 edition of "Cal Lab" magazine.

Abstract

The humble calibration certificate contains crucial evidence of the integrity of test equipment and the validity of the calibration. This is despite the fact that the need to calibrate equipment is considered by some to be simply a 'necessary evil' to attain quality. Companies in a variety of worldwide industries spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually to calibrate their instrumentation yet the tangible evidence of what has been obtained in return for this investment generally receives scant attention. Except for a cursory glance before consignment to the filing cabinet, where it lies awaiting retrieval in the unlikely event of scrutiny during an audit, the calibration record is rarely reviewed after its receipt. One reason is the mistaken assumption that all calibrations are alike, but another is a lack of knowledge about what to look for and its significance. This article aims to provide guidance by exploring the content of typical certificates.

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Calibration Certificates: Look Closer Before Filing