COST OF CALIBRATION!

This Site does not contain glossy pictures of Nuclear Submarines or Space Stations etc., but simply, "Factual Information".

Most companies appreciate the possible repercussion costs of not having instrumentation calibrated. It is vital therefore that the cost of calibration, "An expense with no visible return" is not simply paying for a Certificate of Calibration based on inadequate test results. We at Southern Calibration Laboratories believe that Quality is paramount and that the time taken to read the following could well save you a lot of time and money in the future.

We feel the following points are crucial in evaluating a calibration service:-

•	ISO Approved Laboratories stating traceability to UKAS does not signify a UKAS accreditation.
•	Does your current supplier provide, "test results, instruments used and uncertainties?" If yes do they charge extra?
•	Time and again Southern Calibration Laboratories have witnessed test results which reveal an alarming lack of data; i.e CK () followed by a statement "functioning within Manufacturers Specification." Southern Calibration Laboratories maintain that the CK () would be used when a specific function was checked as working or not e.g. "Display Hold", "Battery Check" or secondary function such as "Trigger Level" with an "Acceptance Criteria" but where specific values are not recordable. When a Manufacturer refers to a specified tolerance for a given function you should expect to see a result. Whilst the CK () implies this, why not record the result as evidence?
•	As with the CK () the number of readings (results) vary dramatically e.g. very few parameters checked at all, and others with a large number of meaningless readings to fill up a report.

THE NET RESULT COULD WELL BE:

A Certificate of Calibration that may satisfy ISO but may not satisfy your real purpose for the Calibration in the first place, which could have serious long term implications, leading to costly retrospective action.

"The true cost of calibration may not be reflected in the price!!!! "