A Careful Consideration of the Calibration Concept

J Res Natl Inst Stand Technol. 2001 Apr 1;106(2):371-9. doi: 10.6028/jres.106.014. Print 2001 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

This paper presents a detailed discussion of the technical aspects of the calibration process with emphasis on the definition of the measurand, the conditions under which the calibration results are valid, and the subsequent use of the calibration results in measurement uncertainty statements. The concepts of measurement uncertainty, error, systematic error, and reproducibility are also addressed as they pertain to the calibration process.

Keywords: calibration; error; influence quantities; measurand; systematic error; uncertainty.