Throughout the th century, calibration services proved themselves essential to a number of industries, especially the oil and gas industry. In the s, concerned parties formed two of the most powerful and important standards organizations, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Those who carry out calibration services rely heavily on the literature put out by IEC and ISO to keep them informed on up-to-date standards of alignment and metrology, or the science of measurement.
The history of calibration services begins with the standardization of weights and measurements of length and distance. Before standardization, measurements varied widely from place to place, and often changed from person to person. For example, one of the first measures of distance in the world was the cubit. People measured cubits as the distance from a person’s shoulder to the tip of their nose. Since no two people are the exact same size, using this system, no two measurements could be exact.
Electronic technology has served to dramatically improve the ability of calibration services. Most sensors and transducers can now provide more accurate measurements than ever before. These tools are also more versatile than they were in the past, and some are even capable of measuring different types of instruments in multiple locations for comparison. This high degree of precision was never possible when workers used manual calibration methods. Advances in electronic technology have made it possible to gauge exact numbers on high tech equipment to maintain high quality performance.
Calibration services, sometimes called instrument calibration services, are an essential part of the upkeep of any measurement device or instrument. Calibration services’ purposes are to take a measurement of the precise output of a device, usually in terms of its power, and compare this reading with the manufacturer’s standards to find out if the device is running both safely and efficiently.
Calibration services offer customers a number of benefits. First, regular calibration is the best and only sustainable method for maintaining instrument accuracy. In fact, in many industries, leaders not only recommend regular calibration, but require it to meet safety and efficiency standards. In addition, by maintaining instrument accuracy, calibration services help hold up fair trade and honest business practices around the world. By eliminating a large portion of the margin of error for important measurements, like those related to pollutants and allergens, calibration services also help keep society safe and healthy.