When calibration is done correctly, it increases efficiency, increases productivity and promotes product consistency and quality standards for a business.

Man holding phone

The three main reasons why instruments need to be calibrated regularly are to establish:

  1. Consistency – the readings from the instrument are consistent with other previously taken measurements,
  2. Reliability – the instrument itself is trustworthy,
  3. Accuracy – the accuracy of the instrument readings with respect to industry standard.

Consistency

As with any device/vehicle, wear and tear dimishes an instrument's ability to remain the same and function at the same level consistently. Therefore instruments need to be checked and rechecked regularly to ensure they are still in working order. Any time-induced changes in the measurements can be detected and adjusted by calibration.

Reliability

Given that time-induced changes occur and with more time they are guaranteed to increase in frequency, the reliability of the instruments is limited to the lifespan provided by the manufacturer. This can be anywhere from a few months to a maximum of 2 years, but it is more usually 1 year. After the lifespan has expired, the reliability of the instrument is in question and calibration of the instrument can confirm this.

Accuracy

Outside of the instrument itself, there are a set of industry standard measurements that all instruments are calibrated against. Each instrument must adhere to these standards at each measurement with zero margin for error. These differ by instrument and industry guidelines and apply to both non-regulated and regulated industries. Regular calibration ensures that instruments meet the necessary industry or instrument guidelines.

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