I believe most instrument users are aware of what a calibration certificate is. However, I am not sure if all who use a measuring instrument with a calibration certificate know how to interpret calibration certificate content.
An accredited calibration certificate is a certificate that follows a specific format guided by the accreditation body, and contains the following information:
Issued by an accredited calibration laboratory
It has traceability information, these are:
The details of the reference standard used
The measurement results
The estimated measurement uncertainty results
The name of the Higher Lab or Organization where traceability originates (ex: NIST)
It has all the elements that I listed below. It complies with the requirements of ISO 17025:2017 under clause 7.8, reporting the results.
And of course, it has the logo of the accreditation body.
To ensure that the lab is accredited under ISO 17025, we should have a copy of their accreditation certificate and scope as evidence that they are accredited.
This is to differentiate it from other non-accredited calibration records where there is no measurement uncertainty result and with limited information.
These kinds of certificates are just a verification result/record.
Mostly, what I observe in most users (quality personnel, safety officers, or other technicians) is that they only use the calibration certificate as evidence that the measuring instruments that they are using are calibrated.
Only a show part for the auditors telling ..“Hey Mr. Auditor, our Instruments are calibrated, we have here the calibration certificate, we have complied with your requirements”.
And some technicians, only use the calibration certificate to verify the date and due dates if the instruments are still within the said calibration date and nothing follows.
Sometimes, calibration certificates are kept directly without reviewing them.
We need to change this habit and start using the calibration certificate for its intended purpose.
