viewLinc for Research & Development Calibration Labs

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a large research and development organization in San Antonio, Texas, uses a Veriteq networked data logger system to monitor and record temperature and humidity conditions in its calibration labs. According to Walt Hill, SwRI's Calibration Manager, the Veriteq system provides greater accuracy and reliability than the pre-existing chart recorders and also offers flexible and centralized data reporting.

The Institute initially purchased the Veriteq data loggers to serve as independent backup devices for existing chart recorders. However, other components were soon added to set up a complete monitoring and alarming system throughout the calibration facility.

"Measurement accuracy is a vital element in calibration quality and the accuracy and responsiveness of the Veriteq loggers is amazing", says Hill. In addition, the system's ability to communicate information over the lab's existing computer network has improved the lab's ability to manage and document the calibration environment.

According to Hill, other important features of the Veriteq system for SwRI technicians included:

• The ability to set up large resizable displays of real-time temperature and humidity readings to alert technicians to changes in the lab environment that may affect calibration quality
• The ability of the system software (viewLinc) to run as a Windows service. "Even though our data loggers are tied into existing computers, the system continues to record and monitor even when our computers are logged off at night." Hill adds that it is important to be notified of lab conditions remotely since any fault with the air conditioning system can result in expensive downtime for the lab.
• Scalability. "We can easily add loggers to the system when we need to. We can also easily move the loggers around to suit the changes we often make to the lab and the equipment."

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is an independent, nonprofit applied research and development organization. The staff of 2,800 specialize in the creation and transfer of technology in engineering and the physical sciences. The Institute occupies 1,200 acres in San Antonio, Texas, and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices. The Institute's Calibration Laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025-1999 "General Requirements for Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories" by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).

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