Tipping the Balance: Why Calibrating Your Scales is So Vital

Scales often seem like an antiquated piece of equipment.  Even though electronic scales have been dominant for years, many people still think straight back to manual, mechanical scales, reminding us that businesses and consumers have been following the same processes for hundreds of years.  The method may have changed, but some things never will—and one such thing is the importance of accuracy in your measurements, no matter what kind of business you're running.  Here's why.

Loss of Profit

Whether you're selling directly to clients—either in industry or direct to consumers—or whether you're measuring out ingredients to create a specific product.  Either way, getting something wrong could be an extremely costly mistake.  Even if the scale is only out by a small amount, this inaccuracy could add up over time to amount for major losses.  For example, even if the scale is out by half a gram, giving .5g extra to every customer that walks through the door will add up to sizeable losses if not caught.  Indeed, it's just as problematic for the scale to be wrong in the other direction.  Not only is it bad business, but if you're giving clients less than they've paid for, even by accident, you could be setting yourself up for costly legal action.

Natural Deterioration

Like watches, scales are the kind of item that is likely to lose accuracy over time.  This doesn't mean you need to replace them unless their internal workings are actually broken.  After calibration, they should return back to being perfectly fit for purpose.  However, it is vital that you account for this potential for losing accuracy and schedule calibration servicing at least once every two years, if not more often.  Equally, having these services performed regularly will allow the expert to detect whether your scales are out by a normal amount, or whether there may actually be a problem to be fixed.

Experts vs. DIY

You may be tempted to try and calibrate the scales yourself, but it's best to avoid this temptation and pay for professional services.  Calibration may appear simple, but it's deceptive; there is an art and a skill to positioning the weights correctly in order to achieve evenness.  Equally, experts will know how to fine-tune the scales, if they are out, without overcompensating.  Doing this yourself may even cause more of a problem than it solves.

In the end, having your scales calibrated is just another form of service that you should consider an annual obligation.  It will keep your systems running smoothly and your measurements correct—and that will save you a lot of headaches in the long run.