Why should I calibrate my scales?

How often should I calibrate my scale?

 

Calibration is an essential part of keeping your scales and weighing equipment within accurate measures. Over time the accuracy of balances and scales become less reliable.  Take the guesswork out of weighing results by having your scales calibrated on a regular basis.  The following can help determine the frequency of having your scales calibrated; the values of your product, the environment in which your products are weighed (i.e., washdown, harsh environment, heavy material), frequent use of the equipment during the day and moving the scale from location to location. 

 

Below are several variables to consider when answering these questions.

 

• Control of Cost: Does your company rely on the accuracy of your weighing equipment for the profit of your business? When you weigh product; calibrating weighing equipment allows you to get accurate product amounts and eliminating waste of material. The more valuable your product is, the more frequent you should calibrate your scales — every month to every quarter.

 

• Cash Register: Businesses that rely on the weight of product sold should have Legal-for-Trade scales, and those scales are required to be calibrated regularly to ensure it weighs accurately. Products that rely on the weight should have a calibration done more frequent. The product type determines the frequency of the calibration and should be calibrated every month or quarterly intervals.

 

• Shipping Cost: The cost of having your product reweighed at a freight terminal can cost you time by slowing down transit time and money if your shipping cost goes up after the product reweighs. Calibration for shipping equipment should be every quarter or 6-month intervals.

 

• Quality Control: Calibrated scales allow businesses to produce repeatable measures.  Check with Quality Control to see if there is a periodic scale calibration requirement. These calibrations are traceable with a certification of calibration. Failure to comply with these quality mandates may result in your quality system becoming decertified and potentially lost business as a result. Calibrations should follow your Quality Control recommendations.

 

• DOT Safety: Hazardous material is required to meet gross weight regulation for proper placarding and permitting. Failure to meet this requirement will result in hefty penalties from the Department of Transportation (DOT). Calibration intervals should be at least quarterly or semi-annual. 

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Call us today to discuss the frequency of calibration you need for your weighing equipment and to schedule the calibration of your scales in our laboratory or on-site at your location. We offer a Calibration Certification for every scale calibration done and a sticker placed on the equipment to remind you when you are due again. Our licensed scale technicians have years of experience working with balances and scales of all types. Our test weights are traceable to NIST and calibrated annually by the Oklahoma Bureau of Standards Metrology Laboratory.