Determination of the Calibration Interval of Measuring Instruments: Which Method Should I Use?

The calibration of measuring instruments provides and maintains the appropriate level of metrological reliability of measurement processes. Calibration is carried out periodically and at certain time intervals. The definition of adequate calibration intervals is a challenge for companies, as a very strict calibration schedule can lead to overcalibrations and increasing costs. Conversely, adopting a more flexible schedule can affect the quality of measurements. Today, there is no normative standardization that establishes the periodicity that must be employed for the calibration tests. Therefore, there is a need to develop and apply methods to determine the most adequate calibration interval for each instrument. In this article, we review some models developed using stochastic, reactive, and statistical methods to determine the calibration interval. There are differences in the application of these methods, particularly in relation to the amount of data to be collected for the development of the methodology and use of statistical procedures. These differences can impact the accuracy and reliability of the obtained results.