Creating a Calibration Measurement Monitoring System for Many, Ever-changing, Complex instruments

Abstract

Creating a Calibration Measurement Monitoring System for Many, Ever-changing, Complex Instruments. Today’s fast paced instrumentation world pushes the demands on calibration quality systems to new levels with: 1) Reported measurement uncertainties. 2) Tighter test limits by applying guard bands. 3) Increasing number of complex instruments needing calibration. 4) Increasing number of automated calibration routines. 5) Global delivery of calibrations. These demands raise a number of questions and challenges for keeping up with the pace: 1) How does one ensure the calibration is within measurement uncertainties claimed? 2) Where’s the biggest impact for improving procedures by reducing uncertainties? 3) How does one: a) Identify issues? b) Correlate issues to root causes? c) Quantify the impact of issues? d) Communicate to fix issues? e) Verify the issue is fixed? 4) How does one accomplish this with global teams in a timely and economical fashion? To address these issues, a “Calibration Measurement Monitoring System” (CMMS) brings a wealth of the most pertinent information to bear, expanding on control charts to provide timely checks, communicate issues and correlate issues to root causes quickly and easily. This paper explores the development and implementation of one such system.