Finding the Right Calibration Solutions

October 09, 2025

Introduction to Calibration Solutions

The instruments and equipment that your company relies on for research and development, testing, and production are subject to wear and tear over the course of normal operations. Ina addition to being prone to malfunctions and breakdowns, the critical parameters can fall out of tolerance as well. Problems can occur even when your team is trained to properly use and maintain the equipment. You must be prepared to address a variety of scenarios, including equipment that has experienced power surges or mishandling by end users.

Calibration solutions involving specialized equipment, software, and third-party services are essential for maintaining precision and accuracy, particularly in laboratory settings.

A wide variety of industries require ongoing calibration services, such as:

  • Academic research
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Biotechnology
  • Compounding pharmacies
  • Defense
  • Food and beverage
  • Hospitals and healthcare
  • Laboratory animal science
  • Medical device manufacturing
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmaceutical

Company owners and operators should know the vital role that calibration solutions play in quality assurance. The smallest of errors from your instruments can ruin products, waste time and resources, and jeopardizing your ability to meet deadlines to deliver products to customers. 

Imagine your employees being forced to stand idle while you rush to identify the issue with the equipment and restore it to good working order. Given the high stakes of maintaining quality assurance and ensuring product safety and reliability, especially when using lab equipment, companies seeking a competitive edge will use the latest technology to improve their calibration efforts. 

Types of Calibration Solutions

If you’re uncertain about what kinds of calibration systems your company may need to keep equipment running according to specification, you should know that calibration solutions primarily consist of:

  • Specialized equipment
  • Advanced calibration software
  • Professional, third-party calibration services

It’s important to select the right type of calibration solution for lab equipment. Doing so ensures that your tools and devices give you accurate results and that the products you create meet your rigid standards and specifications. For example, technicians use software solutions when calibrating devices such as electrical data loggers, scales and balances, centrifuges, and test gauges. 

A third-party expert should have the calibration capabilities for all the equipment used in your laboratory environment, including:

There are multiple types of calibration, depending on what instruments are being utilized. Experienced professionals can perform thermodynamic, mechanical, dimensional, and time/frequency calibrations.

Best Practices for Calibration

You should be aware that industry best practices and international specifications recognize ISO/IEC 17025 as the international standard for calibration laboratories. While accreditation is not universally mandatory for all calibration services, it is widely recommended for organizations seeking to demonstrate technical competence, traceability, and adherence to international calibration standards. ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation provides assurance that calibration procedures are performed correctly, results are accurate, and instruments are properly maintained.

Experts often recommend that you calibrate your laboratory equipment once every six to 12 months. However, the calibration process timeframe may vary according to the type of equipment or instrument and how often you tend to use it. More frequent usage can make lab equipment fall out of specification faster than expected which would require more frequent test intervals.

Best practices for instrument calibration include:

  • Use specialized calibration management software (CMS) to manage your equipment and help you schedule and plan future calibration efforts. The software also records an audit trail, which is crucial for maintaining certification.
  • Develop a schedule (such as once or twice per year) and stick to it. Otherwise, you may forget to conduct the vitally needed calibration tests and could find that equipment starts falling out of specification, which is a recipe for disaster.
  • Onboard new members of your team and provide advanced training to certify your staff in managing the calibration duties. Underscore the critical nature of keeping up with calibration to promote worker safety, product integrity and quality.

Following industry best practices and working to adhere to ISO standards during calibration will help you maintain accuracy and reliability in your laboratory environment over time.

Calibration will extend the lifespan of your critical laboratory equipment, giving you a lower total cost of ownership. With your equipment functioning properly due to routine calibration efforts, you can assume your team will experience less downtime as well.

Calibration Certification and Standards

Calibration certifications are official documents that verify your instruments and equipment have undergone proper testing and calibration, with technicians verifying that they meet the required tolerances for each critical test parameter. Depending on your industry, regulatory and standards bodies that impact calibration requirements for laboratory equipment can include:

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • United States Pharmacopeia (USP)
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
  • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Adhering to calibration standards ensures that your instruments and equipment will provide accurate measurements and functionality, which are necessary in supporting your organization’s product quality standards. 

The Benefits of On-Site vs. Off-Site Calibration

Your organization may have already determined that it requires professionals to assist with equipment calibration. However, you’re not yet certain whether you should opt for on-site or off-site at a calibration laboratory. 

Benefits of on-site calibration include:

  • Increased accuracy and transparency, since all readings are taken at your facility instead of in a distant location.
  • Less chance that equipment will fall out of specification during the transport and shipping of items to and from your facility and another location.
  • You’ll save time, since your equipment will not leave your site and experience downtime in transport.
  • Avoid the possibility of your valuable equipment becoming damaged during transit, necessitating expedited repairs or replacement.

Choosing the Right Calibration Service Provider

Your organization will not be able to maintain its competitive advantage and create products that consistently meet your high standards without having calibration solutions. They play a critical role in ensuring accuracy, reliability, and quality assurance for the processes they are utilized in.

This is where Technical Safety Services can help.. Our experts leverage specialized equipment and best practices to service your entire instrumentation ecosystem, from autoclaves and centrifuges to pipettes and cold storage, ensuring everything performs to specification.
Our commitment to your success doesn’t end with the calibration itself. We empower you with TSS Connect, our advanced customer portal designed to transform compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage. With TSS Connect, you gain:

  • Instant Audit Readiness: Download and access all calibration certificates and service reports 24/7 in one centralized, secure location.
  • Proactive Schedule Management: View upcoming service dates and manage your calibration calendar to never miss a critical deadline.
  • Unmatched Traceability: Maintain a complete digital audit trail for every instrument, simplifying compliance with regulatory standards.

Choosing TSS means choosing a partner dedicated to your operational excellence. We combine industry-leading technical expertise with the innovative tools you need to streamline your quality processes.

For more information about our comprehensive lab equipment calibration services, or to get started with a consultation, please connect with us today.

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