Purchasing and lab shorthand for a calibration whose certificate reports the actual measured values, typically as-found and as-left readings at each test point with their uncertainties. The cheaper alternative, a cal without data or certificate of conformance, states only that the item met its specification. Data is needed whenever the user applies corrections, tracks drift, sets intervals or has to assess the impact of an out-of-tolerance finding.
Order it as a cal with data this time, we need the as-found numbers to justify stretching the interval.
Saving money on a no-data cal looks smart until something comes back OOT and nobody can tell how far off it was.
Also heard as
- calibration with data
- data cal
Related terms
Calibration certificate
The document reporting a calibration's results, uncertainties, conditions and traceability for one specific item.
As found
Calibration data recorded on an instrument as received, before any adjustment or repair is made.
As left
Calibration data recorded after adjustment or repair, showing the condition the instrument returns to service in.
Calibration interval
The scheduled time between calibrations of an instrument, set to keep the chance of drifting out of tolerance low.