In many industries, weighing accuracy and efficiency are vital for quality control and operational productivity. Implementing a weighing system that aligns with production processes can improve efficiency and reduce the risk of errors.

Whether used for powder material level or rate measurement, process weighing systems require a stable platform and reliable weighing scale. Learn how to keep your weighing system accurate by following these best practices.

Accuracy

Weighing is an essential component of process control, providing a key link to achieving operational excellence, waste reduction, and cost savings. It is vital in industries such as pharmaceuticals, food processing, and manufacturing. Accurate and efficient weighing helps to ensure product quality, meet regulatory requirements, and improve supply chain management.

Weight system accuracy depends on many factors, including the load cell’s ability to transform mechanical force into an electronic signal. A load cell that is prone to creep or non-linearity can have an impact on the overall accuracy of a weighing system.

Another factor to consider is environmental conditions. Changes in electromagnetic fields can interfere with electrical signals from weighing systems and cause inaccurate indications. Additionally, temperature fluctuations can affect the consistency of weighing measurements. Moisture in the air can also wreak havoc on weighing systems by causing electrical output to get coupled with input, resulting in erratic readings. Normal preservation, cleaning, and calibration of weighing devices can help to reduce environmental influences that affect accuracy.

Errors

Errors in weighing can stem from factors beyond your control like environmental and sample conditions, improper handling of the balance, and poor lab techniques. Understanding the causes of errors helps you address them and improve your weighing accuracy.

Error types include systematic and random errors. Systematic errors are consistent and predictable, while random errors are unpredictable fluctuations in measurement. Identifying which type of error is causing inaccuracies allows you to find solutions more quickly.

Before attempting any troubleshooting on your weighing equipment, make sure it is completely powered down and isolated from the power source. If working on electrical components, ensure you are using insulated tools and wear proper PPE to avoid electrostatic shock. Also, be sure to keep the area secure and clearly marked to prevent unauthorized access or accidental disturbances. Also, be familiar with the error codes for your weighing scale model so you can quickly identify and understand the issues. This will save you time and money.

Cleaning

Ideally, laboratories should have guidelines or SOPs that dictate when the balance should be cleaned. Even if the same substance is weighed on a regular basis, cleaning after each use prevents residue buildup and cross-contamination. Keeping the balance clean also helps extend the measurement life of the instrument and ensures user safety.

Using a gentle cleaner, dampen a lint-free cloth or paper towel and wipe the weighing cell, display, keypad, and the outside of the balance. Avoid spraying cleaning solutions directly on the scale as this may damage internal parts.

Remove the weighing pan and wipe it as well, being careful not to drop or move powder inside the device. Sweep any accumulated powder away from the outside frame and terminal of the balance with a brush. If you are using a Mettler Toledo analytical balance, unlock and remove the draft shield panes and sweep the inner draft shield and breeze break ring, dust plate, and drip trayi.

Calibration

Calibration is the process of ensuring that your industrial scale’s readings are correct. Without calibration, your weighing equipment can become inaccurate over time, negatively impacting your weighing process. Regularly scheduled balance calibration ensures accuracy and saves you money by eliminating rework.

Hardware calibration uses certified test weights to calibrate the scale at zero and span with a target weight for each weighing range. This produces a highly accurate scale for the given range.

When looking for a calibration company to perform your scale calibrations, make sure they are accredited. This ensures that they have superior documentation practices, excellent technical proficiency and understand your weighing needs. A reputable calibration company will also offer quality assurance and traceability for each calibration they perform. They will also use NIST H-44 qualified technicians that are educated and experienced in scale calibration, and can provide you with a statement of measurement uncertainty for each calibration point. This is a critical part of the calibration process that many companies skip.

Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of developing health problems. Michigan Medicine offers several programs to help you control your weight.

Eat small, nutritious meals often. Make sure your kitchen is free of high-calorie foods, and keep only low-calorie snacks at hand. Limit the amount of time you spend watching TV and playing video games.

Self-control

Whether you’re tackling a difficult physical task or trying to resist the temptations of a baked goods aisle, self-control is essential to success. Often, people who have high levels of self-control are more conscious about their food choices and gain less weight over time. Developing strategies to strengthen self-control can help you reach your goals.

Some people believe that self-control is an innate personality trait, but it can be learned. Researchers have found that childhood self-control predicts later life outcomes, even when controlling for intelligence and family background.

Moreover, self-control isn’t a finite resource. Studies show that avoiding triggers, planning ahead, and keeping a regular routine can help improve self-control. This is because these approaches reduce the cognitive load on daily decisions and conserve self-control resources. It is also important to remember that impulsive behaviours can be triggered by external factors such as social pressure, fatigue, or high stress levels. Self-control can be improved through behavioural techniques like CBT and establishing a healthy lifestyle that provides consistency, structure, and coping mechanisms for emotional and stressor-related triggers.

Psychological issues

Psychologists work with people who want to change their health behaviors, whether they are trying to control weight or to manage a chronic illness like diabetes and heart disease. They can also help with mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. They may work independently in private practice or as part of a team with other health care professionals.

They can teach you to recognize unhealthy beliefs about food, eating, and weight loss that don’t support your healthy goals. They can also help you find ways to reinforce your new healthy habits and feelings, so that they become a long-term lifestyle.

They can also help you deal with negative attitudes about obesity and mental health disorders, which can hold you back. For example, adults with eating disorders often feel that their conditions are stigmatized and that society thinks they are weak-willed and unmotivated. This can affect their relationships and work. They can also develop anxiety, depression and low self-esteem about their bodies, which can make it difficult to control their weight.