Calibration Lab Monitoring & Alarming: Case Study

(See also the PDF version)

viewLinc, Veriteq's temperature & humidity monitoring & alarm solution, is ideal for Cal Lab applications where both accuracy and immediate notification of out-of-compliance conditions are essential.

viewLinc provides time and cost savings in a fully integrated humidity and temperature monitoring, alarm and reporting system. The system is complemented by Veriteq's high accuracy, compact data loggers, ideal for a busy calibration laboratory environment.

With viewLinc, critical environments in calibration labs can be monitored continuously, data is automatically backed up and archived, and alarm notifications are sent to PC desktop, email or cell phone as soon as conditions go out-of-tolerance.

Upgrading Your Calibration Lab - Challenge

A 3rd-party audit of a calibration lab raised concerns about how the lab was monitoring ambient temperature and humidity conditions, critical parameters for calibration quality.

The auditor pointed out a number of issues with the lab's monitoring system for temperature and humidity. The lab relied on chart recorders for most applications. The following points came back on an audit:

• The chart recorder's inaccuracy couldn't provide the information they needed. In this case the width of the pen was producing too much error.
• Dubious calibration of the chart recorder, inherent in its mechanical nature, made the lab's monitoring ineffective.
• There was no reliable 24/7 alarm system. This left the calibration lab's monitored environments vulnerable to drifting out of specification. This had occurred within the calendar year of this audit and had caused costly downtime.
• Missing records were common. Some historical charts could not be located. Personnel didn't know if the charts were misfiled or the chart paper run out.
• Many of this calibration lab's customers required ISO 17025 accreditation. The audit threatened the lab's ability to provide that.

The lab manager needed a better solution. He considered upgrading to high-end chart recorders, or digital devices with memory, but there were issues with these as well:

• High capital costs.
• Time-consuming maintenance would still be needed – eg: chart changes, frequent calibrations, transposing data.

The Veriteq Calibration Lab Solution

Seeking high accuracy monitoring and dependable alarm capabilities, the lab manager chose viewLinc.

viewLinc provides:

Complete viewLinc Calibration Lab Monitoring Package:

• Precise temperature & humidity data logger; cabling
• A2LA-accredited calibration certificate
• Graphing software with Microsoft Excel™ add-in
• Real-time alarm monitoring software
• Perpetual software site license
  
  

If you are replacing chart recorders, our system often pays for itself within the first year after purchase. Learn how much you can save on replacing chart recorders with our free Chart Recorder Replacement ROI Calculator.

Veriteq's Calibration Lab Customers

Veriteq data loggers are used in calibration and metrology labs around the globe. Some of Veriteq's customers include:

• Southwest Research
• Lockheed Martin
• Boeing
• Teledyne
• NIST
• Northrop Grumman
• Intel Oregon Standards Lab
• Simco Electronics
• Sandia National Lab
• Los Alamos National Lab
• Standard Calibrations Inc.
• Tosoh SMD

For more information, contact us.