Calibration, verification and validation are integral across highly-regulated, quality-driven industries, including food, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, military and automotive sectors. These three processes are closely related but have distinct roles in helping businesses ensure they meet industry standards, pass audits and produce reliable, high-quality products.
Learn more about calibration vs. verification vs. validation below.
Calibration is the process carried out on a measuring instrument or a measuring system that, under specified conditions establishes a relation between the values with measurement uncertainties provided by the measurement standards and corresponding indications with associated measurement uncertainties and uses this information to establish a relation for obtaining a measurement result from an indication. Calibration services allow your business to control measurement deviation that can occur over time from wear, environmental factors and handling. Calibration does not involve adjustment. Calibration is sometimes a prerequisite for, or sometimes used for, verification, which provides confirmation that specified requirements (often maximum permissible errors) are met. Calibration is sometimes also a prerequisite for adjustment, which is the set of operations carried out on a measuring system such that the system provides prescribed indications corresponding to given values of quantities being measured, typically obtained from measurement standards.
Accurate measurements keep your business audit‑ready for standards from regulatory bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the International Automotive Task Force (IATF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Proper calibration protects product quality and reduces scrap and rework.
The following are common examples of equipment that require calibration according to industry:
The calibration process typically includes the following basic steps:
Verification is the provision of objective evidence that a given item fulfils specified requirements. It involves using a suitable traceable reference and an understanding of the maximum permissible error or tolerances at a defined point under predefined conditions. Verification does not involve adjustment.
The verification process involves measuring one or more reference values, typically multiple points or repeated readings, to determine if the results fall within the specific acceptance limits according to the defined decision rule. If all results are within these limits, the instrument is verified.
Businesses in quality-driven industries should verify instruments on a regular schedule between calibrations, after repairs, after relocation and any time performance is degraded.
Validation is a verification that the specified requirements are adequate for intended use. Based on end-to-end performance and user needs. It is a planned, documented activity performed prior to formal approval for routine use or before products are allowed to be distributed to customers. According to ISO/IEC 17025, validation of a method may include a verification that measurement range, accuracy, the measurement uncertainty of the results, limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, repeatability or reproducibility, robustness against external influences or cross-sensitivity against interference from the matrix of the sample robustness, selectivity and specificity of a measurement method fulfil specified requirements.
Your business must understand the unique roles of calibration, verification and validation in your overall operations. These processes are essential for the following reasons:
To ensure complete compliance with industry regulations, businesses must follow different protocols for calibration, verification and validation. These processes are crucial for ensuring your equipment and systems are operating within standard.
Failing to correctly identify and follow procedures for all three processes can result in regulatory misalignment, citations and compromised data integrity.
Auditors across highly-regulated industries expect clear, documented definitions of calibration, verification and validation and evidence of all three processes.
Failing to provide evidence for each process can lead to certification suspensions that impact your business’s reputation and bottom line. Companies also compromise product quality and introduce risk when they do not have well-defined protocols for calibration, verification and validation.
Proper calibration, verification and validation support operational excellence through the following:
Understanding the key differences between calibration, validation and verification is integral for protecting your business and providing customers with the highest level of quality.
The following are commonly asked questions about calibration, validation and verification, and the answers businesses should know.
Yes. Your business can perform internal calibration, validation and verification services. However, carrying out these operations in-house requires a significant investment in trained personnel and equipment. Individuals conducting these processes must be well-versed in industry and regulatory requirements to ensure strict adherence. Other key considerations include having a controlled environment, documenting procedures and maintaining thorough, audit-ready record-keeping.
When you partner with a trusted calibration service provider like Garber Metrology, your business can enjoy the following advantages:
The experts at Garber Metrology can help businesses across a wide range of industries, from aerospace to pharmaceuticals, get the equipment calibration services they need to ensure accuracy.
We can provide our services at our in-house laboratories or on-site at your facility. Our aim is to help your business minimize downtime with efficient, effective calibration solutions.
Garber Metrology is also ISO/IEC 17025 and ANSI/NCSL Z540-1-1994 Accredited by ANAB and ISO 9001 Registered by NQA.
Are you ready to get started? Contact us today for a free quote, or reach out to learn more about our precision calibration services.
