Calibration or No Calibration Criteria Cheatsheet

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CALIBRATION or NO CALIBRATION CRITERIA CHEAT SHEET:
How to Determine the Most Valid Instruments for Calibration
(or Not For Calibration)
As a calibration technician or engineer working and managing In-house or Internal calibration, is there a time that makes you think and
ask, “Do I need to calibrate this”? Well, sometimes, based on our knowledge regarding the application and background of specific
instruments, this happens. And you are right, not all measuring and test equipment (M&TE) used need calibration or does not need
your service for it because of some factors that I will share here.
Calibration is the most important factor in terms of measurement but not all measuring instruments needs calibration. When we are
operating an internal laboratory, or getting the services of a third party calibration lab, we should consider having a filter for our
measuring instruments or we should have a proper assessment before having our instruments calibrated.
This Cheat sheet will provide us some guidelines or a criteria on how to assess a certain instruments if it needs a calibration service or
not, either by the internal or an in-house calibration lab or by an external calibration lab. I will share this cheat sheet to easily help you
identify what needs and what does not need calibration.
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Calibration or No Calibration Criteria Cheat Sheet-How to Determine the Most Valid Instruments for Calibration (or Not for Calibration)
Importance of this Guide

My experience and exposure as a calibration engineer managing an Internal Calibration Lab has led me to these guides that help me
effectively perform my job and support my customers (my co-workers). Having an internal laboratory means that calibration is free for
all capable instruments inside the facility whoever owns them. Because of this, almost every measuring instrument will be brought into
your attention. In this case, a criteria or guide use for filtering is really needed to help you decide the most valid instruments for
calibration.
By using this guide, you will learn:

a. To properly assess all Measuring and Test Equipment (M&TE) that is required for calibration.
b. To easily determine all M&TE that is NOT required for calibration
c. To distinguished the most critical aspect ( example: tolerance) of M&TE for calibration.
d. To eliminate duplication of work in relation to calibration (saves you time and effort), since both side You and the tool
owner) has performed the assessment
Below is the Cheat Sheet to help you in the process of implementing Internal Calibration Management. You may copy and print to be
part of your documentation.
For more details on its importance and how to implement this guide, please visit my article in this link
https://calibrationawareness.com/calibration-not-required-implementation-guide-for-in-house-calibration
CALIBRATION CRITERIA CHEAT SHEET
REQUIREMENTS:CALIBRATION REQUIRED YES NO
1 Is The Measuring and Test Equipment used for Testing , Measuring, and Inspection?
1A –◊ Is it used to get specific readings, for monitoring if process or level is ok? ( ex: chart recorders, transmitters)
1B –◊Is it used as a basis if a material, product or item passes or fail? ( ex: a Go-no-go jig, Gauge blocks)
2 Is the instruments used in such a way that it determines product quality?
2A –◊ Is there an acceptable tolerance set for this M&TE ? ( ex: should be within +/-1 deg C, else reject)
2B –◊ Does it affect the performance or quality of the machine where it is installed? ( ex: temperature controller or pressure gauge)
3 Will it produce an unsafe products if the M&TE is found to be out-of-tolerance?
3A –◊ Does it need to be in-tolerance at all times? ( ex: a pressure gauge with a green zone mark on the acceptable range)
4 Is the M&TE identified in the control plan?
4A –◊ Use as a tool to measure, test or inspect? ?
4B –◊ Does the M&TE quantify a value? ( ex: 1mm, 2 Deg C)
4C –◊ Does it requires Measurement System Analysis (MSA)?
5 Does the M&TE have an effect on the accuracy or validity of calibrations?
5A –◊ Do yo u use the M&TE as a check standard for other instruments? ( ex: reference standards or reference materials)
6 Is M&TE required to be calibrated?
6A –◊ Is it required by auditors or customer?
REQUIREMENTS: NO CALIBRATION REQUIRED YES NO
7 Is the accuracy of the M&TE established by a higher or reference to a higher or more accurate calibrated instrument within a group?
–◊ Is its accuracy established by other calibrated M&TE? (Ex: a pressure gauges that are connected in series to a more accurate calibrated
7A
gauges where they are compared or referenced to.)
7B –◊ Is the M&TE part of a system or integrated into a system where the system are calibrated as a whole.? ( ex: a thermocouple that is
permanently connected to the oven or temp cont.)
8 Does the M&TE being checked-out or monitored in a defined frequency using a calibrated M&TE?
–◊ Do you verify regularly or continuously monitored the M&TE by a calibrated instrument that is documented in a measurement
8A assurance process ( ex: a room thermometer checked regularly and recorded using another calibrated M&TE or a M&TE installed in a
machine that is calibrated or verified duirng preventive maintenance)
9 Is the Usage of the M&TE not critical in your process?
–◊ Is the M&TE use only just to display a certain reading for a purpose of functionality check? As an indicator only, not a basis to get
9A
reading?( Ex: a pressure gauge that displays only if there is a presence of gas or liquid)
M&TE – Measuring and Test Equipment
1 if Yes to any Item from 1A to 6A, and NO to Item 7A to 9A, The M&TE MUST be calibrated
Note: 4A and 4B must be both YES to consider it as a YES.
2 If NO to all items from 1A to 6A, then the M&TE does not require calibration
3 If YES to any item from 1A to 6A, and YES to any item from 7A to 8A, The M&TE may NOT be calibrated.

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Importance of this Guide

By using this guide, you will learn:

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