12 Reasons to Make IIA Your Calibration Provider

Aside from matters of material and design, the difference between a superstar product and a lemon could come down to calibration. When faithfully performed, this critical process allows manufacturers to consistently produce the product their customers are counting on.
Calibration compares actual measurement values produced by a measuring device to an accepted standard to determine the accuracy of the instrument — and it’s one of our specialties at Industrial Inspection & Analysis (IIA).
Why Calibration Matters
Over time, measurement devices, like all mechanical equipment, will “drift” from design specifications and become less accurate. Factors such as repeated usage (wear and tear) and environmental factors, such as dust or temperature fluctuations, can all impact accuracy. Routine calibration helps to ensure that measuring equipment continues to measure precisely to its specification.
The calibration process involves obtaining a test reading from a measurement device, such as a scale, gauge, sensor, or thermometer, and comparing it to the reading from an accepted standard. The standard equipment is far more accurate than the equipment being tested.
Any deviation from the standard is documented to show how much the instrument has drifted since its last calibration. Cleaning, repairs or other adjustments can then be made to bring the equipment back to an acceptable accuracy range.
After adjustments, the instrument is tested again to confirm that it meets accuracy requirements. When adjustments are not possible, discrepancies are documented and the instrument is labeled accordingly.
Calibration promotes safety, quality and compliance by ensuring a manufacturer can reliably produce a product that meets internal quality and industry standards. Without calibration, there is greater risk of product defects, equipment malfunctions, structural integrity issues, and safety hazards.
In many industries, the consequences of seemingly small errors in measurement can be serious. For example, in the medical field, inaccurate test results could lead to misdiagnosis or unsafe (or unnecessary) treatments. In the aviation industry, sensors or instruments that drift out of calibration could lead to fuel shortages, mechanical failures or navigation errors — with potentially deadly consequences.




