We are living in a world where advances in science and technology are changing lives every day around the world, at the highest rate of change in human history. Computer processors/controllers continue to increase in speed and capacity, while decreasing in physical size. More and more former science fantasies are fast approaching reality, such as self-driving vehicles, recreational space flight, or microbots made of spirolina algae, coated with nano particles of magnetic material, for insertion into the human body for medical treatments. Countless manufacturing and measurement processes--from pharmaceuticals and medical devices to aeronautical applications, complex gas distribution systems and desiccants to nuclear power generation—are capable of achieving increasingly more accurate and reliable results through the use of instrumentation with ever-tightening uncertainty specifications. Regulatory agencies continue to increase processing and reporting expectations, seeking to maintain high standards in their respective fields. This constantly evolving growth requires support from entities such as Thunder Scientific’s globally-respected calibration laboratory, with the knowledge base, technical expertise and accreditation to meet customers’ needs.

Routine calibration of critical measurement and test equipment is understood by many companies to be a necessary expense for those businesses wanting to maintain a competitive edge in today’s world market. Calibration lends credence to testing results. It is a crucial tool for ensuring high quality, consistent process performance over time. It minimizes false pass/fail decisions and the costs associated with them. Data obtained from each calibration event allows users to analyze the amount of error currently being exhibited by the unit under test (UUT), and determine the impact of that error on the process in which the UUT is being used. The data from consecutive calibrations can be trended and analyzed to identify opportunities for process improvement. For highly regulated industries (e.g. pharmaceutical manufacturers, nuclear power facilities, medical device manufacturers), calibration is not optional. These industries are required to maintain calibration programs that utilize only those support companies that can provide product/services that meet their stringent regulatory requirements.

Understanding the impact of inaccurate measurements on your processes is crucial to determining whether or not to calibrate. When working through that decision, ask the question, “What is the risk of not calibrating?” Companies that utilize the Failure Mode Effects Analysis (FMEA) quality tool would do well to include this analysis in the initial process development phase, looking at the potential impact of positive and negative errors in in-process and quality control measurements. Failure to maintain regular calibration on process-critical equipment can lead to unscheduled downtime, quality issues, even expensive rework and/or product recalls. The associated costs can range from expensive, unnecessary rework of good product, to the potentially devastating financial burden and loss of customer confidence due to the recall of sub-standard product already in your customers’ hands. Inaccuracies in the measurements obtained from equipment used in hazardous areas could put employee and customer safety at risk. The choice to not calibrate might also limit your client pool, if you are hoping to attract customers from regulated industries.

Thunder Scientific achieved accreditation in June of 2003 through the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and has maintained NVLAP accreditation ever since. Thunder Scientific is currently the only NVLAP accredited source to offer humidity calibrations that are traceable to the International System of Units (SI) through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recognized through CIPM MRA with uncertainties at (0.17% * R) + 0.016 %RH*.
Thunder Scientific provides SI traceable calibration service on virtually any type of humidity, frost/dew point, temperature and pressure measuring/generating equipment. Final calibration, test and certification are performed in an environmentally-controlled calibration laboratory and NVLAP accredited Certificates of Calibration with Statements of Conformance are delivered with each instrument stating SI traceability. In addition to routine calibrations, Thunder Scientific can provide special test design with automated test sequence for evaluation of sensor performance and stability analysis. We deliver on time service (expedite service is available) with defect-free documentation as per the guidelines of ISO/IEC 17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994; Part 1.

* Represents an expanded uncertainty using a coverage factor, k=2, at an approximate level of confidence of 95%.