How Precision Measuring Tools Help With Measuring Accuracy

Imagine that everyone was using a different standard when they spoke of things in terms of pounds or miles. Things would get confusing very quickly, which is why regulatory commissions have worked to create reference standards from which all precision measuring tools are derived. Regardless of whether an organization uses metric, customary, or some other system, they need to have tools that are checked against some outside reference to ensure that they’re giving accurate measurements.

 

Ironically, this bulk confusion was once true of feet. There was a separate international foot as well as an American survey foot. Since 1959, metrology experts have been working to ensure that everyone uses essentially the same definition of what a foot is. Without precision measuring tools, they might never have been able to do just that.

 

Electronics and aerospace companies have been particularly concerned about the precision of their measuring tools because even the slightest errors in these industries could have disastrous results. Oncologists who have to measure the dose of radiation given to a patient have to be certain that they have tools that will give them accurate readings every single time they use them. Semiconductor manufacturers need to be sure that the weights and measures they’re using are accurate to within a small fraction of a millimeter, which is why companies that compete in that space have invested so much money into testing their gear.

 

Using the most precise measuring tools possible enables manufacturers to cut out deviations early on in production. That cuts down on how much rework they have to do and means they won’t generate nearly as much scrap. Machine shops order professional-grade metrology parts that they can rely on time and time again to give them repeatedly accurate measurements so they don’t have to suddenly stop making a part and retool anything.

 

Choosing the right tools for the job takes a great deal of time since specialists need to calibrate each individual measurement tool before they’re given the green light for use in an actual production environment. Most machine shop managers are more than happy to invest the time because they know it will translate into much less work later on.

 

Regulatory constraints are another major reason that an increasingly large percentage of manufacturers are working to improve the accuracy of measurement tools. Say someone filled bottles at a dairy. If they were putting less milk or cream in them than the label read, then they could be held accountable because some people would feel they’re cheating the consumer. Those in the pharmaceutical industry need to be certain that the size of each pill matches what’s on the bottle to avoid adverse reactions. This is true of both over-the-counter medications as well as agents that are only available by prescription. In any of these cases, it makes sense to take the time needed to test every single measurement tool and be certain that it’s doing its job the correct way. It’ll certainly be less of an investment than what it might take to clean things up later on.