Setting up an instrument calibration process requires a great deal of common sense and care. Endress+Hauser offers a method for optimizing calibration intervals, which, by taking into account the characteristics of the production process, makes it possible to eliminate additional costs while continuing to manufacture a product or provide a service that meets the expected specifications and quality requirements.
Respecting certain key principles laid down in the quality standards of 11309001, many companies are content to check their instruments regularly (often at one-year intervals), without ever questioning their calibration intervals. This may mean that they calibrate their instruments too often, or not often enough. Setting calibration intervals out of habit can lead to wasted resources, increased risks and higher costs. " The right balance has to be struck between too much and too little calibration. Extending the calibration interval reduces costs, while reducing it reduces the risk of non-compliance. It is essential to act intelligently on these two levers. You should never decide to calibrate an instrument every year out of habit, but only when the process requires it." warns Christophe Heitzmann.
Concentration of effort
For greater efficiency and profitability. Endress+Hauser offers to support manufacturers in their efforts to optimize metrology operations on their instruments, so that they can concentrate their efforts where they are most needed. Our experts will work closely with the manufacturer to analyze the characteristics of the production process, the installed base of sensors, and the influence of each sensor on process performance. The aim of the approach is therefore to determine the impact of an instrument's drift on the process, and hence its criticality. The level of criticality thus assessed will make it possible to define the maximum tolerated error (MTE) for each sensor and review the required calibration frequency. " Manufacturers often tend to take the utmost care when it comes to calibrating their instruments, whatever their criticality level. However, over-calibration of an instrument with a lower MPE than necessary leads to additional costs in terms of metrology and maintenance." explains Christophe Heitzmann.
Proven optimization methodology
The methodology developed and deployed by Endress+Hauser to optimize calibration periodicity and EMT level to process requirements is based on standards 13031010 and 13010012 and best practices in the field. It is also based on software modeling tools for instrument drift, developed using a database of 22 billion calibration data. It also benefits from Endress+Hauser's dual expertise in metrology and as a manufacturer of process measurement instruments.
The calibration interval optimization method is implemented in close collaboration between Endress+Hauser's experts and the manufacturer, in order to define the calibration periodicity best suited to each instrument according to its specified criticality and EMT. This methodology has already proved its effectiveness in the industrial field. " Its implementation at some of our customers has made it possible to extend the calibration interval for 67% of the instruments in their installed base, to maintain it at its current level for 20% of them, and to reduce it for 13% of them. This has led to a 37% reduction in costs linked to calibration operations and associated maintenance work." reports Christophe Heitzmann.