Calibration, it’s essential

In the world of modern manufacturing, a wide variety of tools are used to shape products, verify the accuracy of designs, and ensure that finished products meet industry standards and specifications. Only accurately calibrated tools ensure that the manufacturing process and product validation are accurate, which is a solid guarantee of production quality.
Calibration is a rigorous verification process that compares a tool’s measurements to a recognized standard of high precision to verify that it meets the specified accuracy requirements. Once a deviation is detected, the tool must be adjusted to return to its original level of performance and measured again to confirm that it is back within specification. This process is not only about the accuracy of the tool, but also about the traceability of the measurement results, i.e., every piece of data can be traced back to an internationally recognized benchmark standard.
Over time, tools lose their performance through wear and tear, frequent use or improper handling, and their measurements “drift” and become less accurate and reliable. Calibration is designed to restore and maintain this accuracy, and is an essential practice for organizations seeking ISO 9001 quality management system certification. The benefits are far-reaching:
Ensure that tools are always accurate.
Minimizing the financial losses associated with inefficient tools.
Maintaining the purity of manufacturing processes and product quality.

The positive effects of calibration don’t stop there:
Improved product quality: Ensuring accuracy at every step of manufacturing.
Process optimization: Improve efficiency and eliminate waste.
Cost control: Reduce scrap and improve resource utilization.
Compliance: Comply with all relevant regulations.
Deviation warning: Early identification and correction of production deviations.
Customer Satisfaction: Deliver products you can trust.

Only an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, or an in-house team with the same qualifications, can take on the responsibility of tool calibration. Some basic measuring tools, such as calipers and micrometers, can be calibrated in-house, but the standards used to calibrate other gauges must themselves be regularly calibrated and replaced in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 to ensure the validity of the calibration certificates and the authority of the measurements.
Calibration certificates issued by laboratories may vary in appearance, but should contain the following basic information:
Date and time of calibration (and possibly humidity and temperature).
The physical condition of the tool upon receipt.
Physical condition of the tool when returned.
Traceability results.
Standards used during calibration.

There is no set standard for the frequency of calibration, which depends on the type of tool, frequency of use, and working environment. Although ISO 9001 does not specify calibration intervals, it does require that a calibration record be established to track the calibration of each tool and confirm that it is completed on time. When deciding on the frequency of calibration, consider:
The manufacturer’s recommended calibration interval.
History of the tool’s measurement stability.
The importance of the measurement.
The potential risks and consequences of incorrect measurements.

While not every tool needs to be calibrated, where measurements are critical, calibration is necessary to ensure quality, compliance, cost control, safety and customer satisfaction. While it does not directly guarantee product or process perfection, it is an important part of ensuring tool accuracy, building trust, and pursuing excellence.