Calibration of Measuring Instruments

As with everything else, the quality of a measuring instrument is assessed by how well it serves its intended use. And, if we want it to serve us well, i.e., to measure well and accurately for as long as possible, the costs of calibration cannot be avoided.

Although we may wish to rationalise our calibration costs, we must always engage an external calibration laboratory to carry out the calibration of a particular number of measuring instruments. This applies equally to calibration laboratories themselves, including us. In such a case, we select an appropriate external laboratory and, where necessary, define the scope of the service in more detail.

For a company with quite a large number of measuring instruments it can be worthwhile considering the possibility of in-house calibration of some of the simpler instruments which are less demanding to calibrate. Of course, this only makes sense if in-house calibration costs less than external calibration.

• purchase costs of adequate calibration equipment,
• setting up premises and an environment where calibrations will be performed,
• training of personnel,
• preparation and documentation of procedures.

• salaries of personnel, 
• calibration of reference measurement standards (calibration of reference measurement standards is more expensive),
• renting and/or maintenance of premises,
• equipment depreciation costs.

These are all fixed costs and cannot be avoided.

The decision to set up one's own calibration facilities thus depends mainly on the reached critical number of measuring instruments in respective categories of measuring instruments that justifies the investment in new jobs, training, equipment, etc.