Too Much Calibration?

About this Article
This article by Todd Wendle was presented at the NCSL International 2003 Symposium and published in the Proceedings.

Abstract

"Hey Wendle, our cost of sales is increasing, and my boss is riding me hard to reduce it ! That calibration budget you submitted is 'killing' me. It is just too much calibration. Get back to me tomorrow with a better proposal will you? Oh, and by the way could you look at our warranty failures and get that under control? We are up 5% from a week ago."
As with another common euphemism, calibration, confidence, and expense all rolls down hill.

High confidence in the test system directly translates to high confidence in the DUT test results and 'high' costs buying that confidence. The opposite is true as well. Low confidence in the test system is a guarantee of low confidence in the DUT test results, but a great way to trim costs. Between the 'too much' and the 'not enough' is the elusive balance point between cost and confidence.

This paper will explain the variables that are at work in the world of calibration, how they can be used to find that balance point, and ultimately answer those most important questions. "Will the product work?" and " How much is it going to cost me to know?" It will also provide a common denominator in the languages used by the metrologists and manufacturing.

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Too Much Calibration?