This is so very helpful. How was that tolerance determined? We perform these weight checks on a weekly basis and I just noticed there is a slight deviation from the test standard. It is small..like within 0.01 but i am unsure how to proceed. Thank you in advance for any information.
I suggest reading this over. At least the parts that apply to your process.
https://www.nist.gov...ist-handbooks-0
good morning everyone,
I recently started working for a new company. Every other company i have worked we have had daily calibrations on scales, freezer temperature, thermometers, ph machines etc. Here we usually just have an outside scale company come in every 6 months and calibrate our scales. Should i implement a daily scale calibration as well as a verification on the freezer temperatures and thermometers or will the annual check and wall thermometers be sufficient?
Do you mean daily checks / verification the equipment is measuring within acceptable tolerance?
In my view daily calibrations are unnecessary unless your "checks" or "verification" is outside of the tolerance on a regular basis. Really, the calibration frequency is established by what's in the equipment literature, regulatory body (what they may dictate), and how you use the equipment.
I've been in facilities where the scales get "beat up" on a regular basis and have a contract with 3rd party to do monthly service on all scales, including calibration. Other facilities, I've had the calibration annually because the equipment was never out of tolerance on the daily check and equipment well maintained.
Thermometers are the same way. A lot of it depends on the type of thermometer, e.g. a dial thermometer is much more susceptible to vibration and going out of tolerance versus a mercury / alcohol type of thermometer. In my experience the dial thermometers would be calibration checked far more regularly, such as weekly or monthly and the more stable type of thermometers calibration checked annually.
Almost forgot...the pH meter typically calibrated daily or multiple times per day depending on usage and how well it is maintained, as well as, what your calibrations yield (does the slope vary greatly from calibration to calibration?).
Edited by Ryan M., 30 May 2019 - 05:00 PM.