How Calibration Providers Impact Your Risk
This blog expands on Instron’s video series How Calibration Providers Impact Your Risk and explains why calibration uncertainty matters, how it affects your decision making, and what to look for when choosing a calibration provider.
Introduction to Calibration and Uncertainty
Every measurement, no matter how precise, carries a small degree of variability. This is known as uncertainty of measurement, and it exists even after calibration. Uncertainty is not a defect; it is a measurable and documented part of every traceable result.
Understanding and minimizing this uncertainty is critical to maintaining confidence in your data. Smaller uncertainty means greater precision and lower risk. That is why choosing a calibration provider with low uncertainty, clearly documented and traceable, is a key part of protecting the integrity of your testing and reporting.
Understanding Risk in Calibration
Every measurement carries uncertainty, but the size of that uncertainty is what determines how much risk you are carrying. The larger the uncertainty, the wider the possible range around the measurement, and the greater the likelihood that a result appearing “in spec” may fall outside acceptable limits.
That risk can have operational consequences, including:
- Rework that slows production
- Audit findings or failed certifications
- Product recalls and loss of customer trust
Reducing uncertainty minimizes the risk of hidden nonconformities and protects your process, your product, and your reputation.
Learn more about Instron's accredited calibrations
How to Evaluate Calibration Providers
Not all calibration providers deliver the same level of assurance. When selecting one, it is essential to look beyond the certificate and ask the right questions:
- Are they accredited to calibrate the specific instruments and ranges you use?
- Do they publish their measurement uncertainties and explain what those values mean?
- Do they clearly define how pass/fail decisions are made?
- Is their scope of accreditation easy to access and up to date?
- Do they support your audit readiness with clear documentation?
A confident provider should be able to answer these questions without hesitation. At Instron, we don’t just calibrate equipment; we help strengthen your quality system and reduce uncertainty at every step.
Choosing the Right Calibration Provider
The most important document any calibration provider can show you is their scope of accreditation. This is the official record issued by an accreditation body that lists:
- The standards and parameters they are accredited to calibrate
- The specific instruments and measurement ranges covered
- The uncertainty values they achieve for each parameter
Instron’s global calibration laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) under Lab Code 200301-0, a signatory of the International Laboratory Accredited Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA). Our scope of accreditation includes force, speed, displacement, strain, and more. Additionally, our uncertainty values are among the lowest available.
All calibrations are performed by factory-trained Field Service Engineers who combine advanced metrology expertise with comprehensive knowledge of Instron systems.
Choosing the right calibration provider isn’t just about meeting a requirement. It’s about protecting your business, your brand, and your customers.
Conclusion: Reduce Uncertainty, Reduce Risk and Increase Confidence
Calibration is more than a check box, it is a decision that affects the accuracy of your data, the reliability of your products, and the strength of your quality system. Lower uncertainty means higher confidence and lower risk.
At Instron, we invest in accredited processes, advanced systems, and experienced engineers to deliver the lowest possible measurement uncertainty, so you can trust every result.
