Many businesses today must weigh their materials often. In fact, weighing accuracy is an essential job of any company selling or processing products. To support accuracy, you may need to calibrate your digital scales often. Here are some helpful tips for using calibration weights for best results.
When Should You Calibrate?
One should consider calibrating based on the value of the goods. Expensive goods need the most sensitive equipment. For example, suppose you normally process 5000 pounds of materials each day (with a total value of $25,000). If the scales are off by as little as one-half of one percent, you could lose as much as $125 per day. Assuming you work 5 days a week, that comes to over $30,000 in one year. Check your weighing equipment with calibration weights weekly or at least monthly to support accuracy.
Weight Inspections
You probably have regular inspections from the local department of weights and measurements. It’s important to calibrate before the inspections. If your scales are off too much, your operation may have to shut down until you correct the problem.
Usage
If your scales are used constantly, frequent calibration is essential. Also, if the scales are portable and often moved, it can affect accuracy.
Calibration Weights
First, make sure to clean your scale of any debris or dirt. For washable scales, let them completely dry before calibrating. Next, put your scales on the “zero” setting. If your equipment has calibration options, use them. Turn off large fans to avoid excessive airflow. Check your scales manual for special calibrating information. For increased accuracy, buy your calibration weights from a trusted source, and consider these important things:
- NIST certificate (National Institute of Standards and Technology)
- NVLAP accreditation (National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program)
- ISO approved by an accredited laboratory