2002 Calibration Software and Services Guide
by Robert Green and Kennedy Smith
Any company that relies on
testing equipment knows the importance of calibration. Testing
equipment catches defects and monitors production, so it’s
imperative that this equipment is well-maintained and precise.
Furthermore, there’s an increasing demand for traceability
to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and
the only way to meet this requirement is to maintain a strict
calibration schedule and keep an accurate record of all
your testing equipment.
The 2002 Calibration Software and Services Guide is the
first step in resolving any equipment calibration issues
you may have, whether it’s locating the right software
to track your calibrations or searching for an outsourcing
provider.
If you’re in the market for calibration software,
keep in mind the various technical aspects of each calibration
software provider’s products. Among the questions
on your checklist, be sure to ask:
n How customizable is this
software to my company’s needs?
n How extensive are the calibration
reports?
n Is the software compatible
with my company’s existing platform (e.g., Windows,
Macintosh or Novell)?
n Is free technical support
offered?
n Can my company’s
existing quality procedures be incorporated into the software?
n Is the software designed
for organizations of my company’s size?
You may find it more cost-effective for your company to
outsource equipment calibration rather than incur the equipment
and labor expenses of performing it in-house. If your company
has concluded that outsourcing calibration services is ideal,
there are a few questions you may want to consider when
researching various providers.
n How long has the lab been
in business?
n What is the experience
level of the specialists?
n What accreditations and
certifications does the lab conform to?
n Can the calibration lab
provide references?
n Is the calibration traceable
to standards?
n What is the turnaround
speed?
Below you’ll find a list of companies throughout
North America that provide software and services designed
to assist in any of your calibration needs. The directory
includes company names, addresses, telephone and fax numbers,
and Web addresses. These companies have also provided detailed
descriptions of specific products and services, which can
be found at www.qualitydigest.com/directories.
Contact the companies directly if you have further questions
about a product’s capabilities or a service’s
applicability to your calibration needs.
Although Quality Digest hasn’t evaluated, nor are
we endorsing, any offering of the following calibration
software and service providers, we’re committed to
providing you a start in your quest for the right solution.
Only those companies that responded to our requests for
information are listed.
We appreciate any feedback you might have on our directories.
If you have a suggestion for how we can improve this directory
next year, e-mail Directories.
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