Weighing processes play a vital role in numerous industries. From chefs perfecting recipes to healthcare professionals ensuring accurate dosages, the precision of a scale is what makes the difference.
Ensure the right weighing system is used to reduce weighing errors. Also, keep in mind to always use clean forceps to pick up the samples and keep the weighing chamber and bench space scrupulously clean.
Accuracy
Pre-weighing is an effective way to ensure that all ingredients are in the right order and proportion. This ensures that the final product is consistent and meets quality standards, particularly important in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals. Accurate weighing reduces waste and production delays, saving money and resources.
Weighing technology is accurate regardless of the material being measured or the vessel that it’s stored in. It’s also noncontact, making it safe to use in corrosive environments. Its accuracy allows users to measure a material’s bulk density and flow rate without the need for additional correction factors.
However, factors such as environmental changes, aging of components, and improper maintenance can affect the accuracy of scales and balances. To maximize accuracy, a regular schedule of calibration using certified reference weights is essential. In addition, periodic maintenance can help address issues like vibrations, temperature, humidity, and air currents that can cause interference in a balance or scale.
Traceability
The term traceability is used to describe the ability of a measurement result to be related to a reference standard, typically maintained by a national metrology institute (NMI) or an accredited calibration laboratory. This ability is crucial for manufacturers who need to ensure that their measuring equipment provides accurate results, especially in cases where a product recall may be required.
The official definition of traceability is “the property of a measurement result or value that can be related to stated references, usually national or international standards, through an unbroken chain of comparisons each contributing to the overall measurement uncertainty.”
This is a fancy technical description, but we can break it down into something more practical for our purposes. The process of ensuring that your process instruments are traceable starts with making sure that the test standards that you use are routinely calibrated by higher level test standards. Each of these higher level test standards must be traceable back to a national or international standard, which is why this is sometimes called the NIST Traceability model.
Safety
Weighing in hazardous industrial environments requires precision instruments and comprehensive safety protocols. This combination minimizes exposure to toxic materials, reduces waste and rework, and bolsters productivity. It also helps ensure that products meet quality standards and consumer expectations.
Ideally, scales and balances should be kept out of flammable environments. However, this is not always possible. For example, a lab may need to weigh samples in glass or metal containers that cannot be easily sealed. In such cases, the scale should be equipped with a special vapor suppression system. This will prevent the release of volatile chemicals into the air.
It is also important to keep the scales and balances calibrated regularly. This will help reduce errors and improve accuracy over time. The use of disposable gloves and head caps helps prevent hair fall and breath from affecting the readings. Additionally, it is important to record the readings directly into a lab notebook to avoid transcription errors.
Cost
Unlike traditional mechanical scales, digital weighing systems are not susceptible to friction and wear. They are also more accurate and can be integrated seamlessly into the broader manufacturing process. In addition, they offer the ability to record and communicate data that can be used for inventory management and quality control.
When it comes to weighing, choosing the right method depends on your precision needs and the characteristics of the materials you are measuring. For example, if you need to measure bulk materials and small measurement variations are acceptable, direct weighing is an efficient option.
Another important factor is to consider your weighing containers. For example, when using a weigh boat or glassine paper, make sure you can remove any material that sticks to it. Otherwise, you will need to scrape it off with a plastic transfer tool or a knife, which can be time-consuming and inefficient. A better solution is to place a small and easily removed item, such as a coin or calibration weight on the platform. This forces the scale out of autotare mode and reveals its true weight.