A good number of calibration labs that are into electrical and temperature calibration use Fluke’s MET/CAL to automate their calibration process. As a testing and calibration automation system MET/CAL enjoys excellent patronage from the labs. But the platform comes with its own set of challenges.
Let’s take a look at what these challenges are, and also the practical solutions.
Measurement of uncertainties.
Accredited calibration labs are bound by calibration measurement capability (CMC) which are allocated to labs during their accreditation process, and this means labs cannot report uncertainties lower than their allocated CMC for a given scope and range.
MET/CAL procedures are based on manufacturer specifications. But because labs are bound by CMC they cannot report uncertainties reported by MET/CAL. And they have no control over the reports generated by MET/CAL thus preventing any possibility to do adjustments.
Labs that are in this precarious situation will need an intermediary. Fluke provides MET/CONNECT, a protocol using which the intermediary can receive the data from MET/CAL, and then do the adjustments based on CMC budgets.
Metquay is well-capable to play the role of intermediary.
The output format headache.
Each MET/CAL procedure has its own output format, and this becomes a major problem as the number of procedures increases.
The intermediary, read Metquay, can collect the data and consolidate the output formats. Headache no more.
Resolution of measurement - another pain.
Every measuring equipment has a resolution, that is the number of decimal points it can report. Sometimes the same equipment can have multiple resolutions based on output value range. It’s complex.
The uncertainty calculations may result in a different resolution, with ‘n’ number of decimal points. Now, it’s even more complex.
Add CMC budgets into the equation, it’s many times more complex now.
The intermediary, again read ‘Metquay’ as no other player in the market can do this, allows the labs to set rules so that the result can be rounded to the nearest. Now, that’s many levels of complexity less.
Data Visualization
MET/CAL provides no mechanism to visualize data in graphical format. This adds another capability of intermediaries like Metquay that helps users to consume data and information in a visual format.
Conclusion.
If you are running a calibration lab, and are using MET/CAL, using calibration management software like Metquay that can communicate with MET/CAL using MET/CONNECT can ease your pain much.
Thank me later.
If you would like to know more about MET/CONNECT integration for your MET/CAL platform, feel free to ping us at consulting@metquay.com. We are here to help you.
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