Calibrating, cleaning, and related scale repair services, especially digital scale repair, ensure that companies receive precise, accurate readings of weight measurements for their products. Accurate measurements are essential for a company’s profit and commerce in general. Most commercial transactions rely on scales, as product prices are determined by weights and measures (as defined by the commercial measure system).
Weights govern the price of packaged goods at the supermarket and delicatessens, gasoline at the pumps, farm products—grain, produce, and livestock- and landfills even charge fees based upon the trash’s weight. The law requires accurate readings of weight measurements. Whether relating to transporting goods or selling them retail, weights and measures regulations impact approximately fifty percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.
By any measure, properly calibrated scales are essential for a company’s success. Poor factory calibration or wear from constant use may cause inaccurate scale readings.
- It can lead to goods underpricing, inventory discrepancies, reduced profit, and even monetary loss.
- Or it can lead to overpricing, loss of credibility and business, and substantial fines if the margin of error exceeds the legal limit.
In either instance, inaccurate readings can hurt companies.
For reliability, having a maintenance program that provides all scale repair services—from inspecting the initial factory calibration settings to regularly cleaning your scales—can give the accurate readings your company needs to thrive. Let’s take a closer look:
What is Factory Calibration?
Calibration of scales is a testing method that certifies the accuracy of weight readings. Before final packaging and shipping of scales, manufacturers commonly perform “factory calibration” testing as part of their quality control process, which factory QC technicians conduct. Any QC methodology’s objective is to ensure that enough tested products, in this case, scales, fall within accepted tolerances to certify them all. In most cases, factory calibration is sufficient to perform readings within a reasonable tolerance.
However, in industrial production environments, manufacturing plants, and warehouses that operate within the commercial measurement system, meaning that they operate within regulatory guidelines, having accurately calibrated scales is vital to a company’s success.
How is Calibration Calculated?
Calibration is calculated by placing a certified mass on the scale to test the weight reading accuracy. If there is a difference in the reading between the certified mass and the scale, the scale needs to be adjusted if it is new or restored if it’s time for maintenance until the readings fall within an acceptable tolerance. Remember that the instruments used in testing may only be capable of measuring a particular weight range. In this case, a calibration range spanning from zero to a maximum weight of your choosing should be defined, whereby calibration can be set at several points along the span to ensure high accuracy.
How Often Should Scales Be Calibrated?
Many factors can determine how often scales should be calculated. As mentioned, it’s probably good to calibrate when you first open the box. That said, a combination of manufacturer’s recommendations, usage, environmental conditions, and the need for exact or sufficient weight readings should determine how often your scales are calibrated.
If scales are used throughout the day, each day of the week, rather than just a few times a week, it’s reasonable to assume that scale calibration should frequently occur under normal wear and tear, e.g., monthly. It may be that the scales are operating in a punishing environment—volatile temperature ranges, dust, grime, and fluids or the scales could be subjected to vibrations, static electricity, or mechanical shock. In such environments, scales should be calibrated regularly per the manufacturer or your scale repair service recommendations.
Contact Worcester Scale for Calibration or Scale Repair Services
It may be that some scales need to be calibrated once per month for accuracy or spot-checked throughout the week or only once a year. Contact Worcester Scale Co. to discuss your scale repair service needs. Worcester Scale is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration laboratory that offers a range of maintenance programs and emergency services, including field service, to perform various scale repair services, including weight scale, digital scale, electronic scale, truck scale, and much more.
Leave a Reply