Kalibrierten

Kalibrierten is a German term rooted in kalibrieren, meaning to adjust a measuring instrument to a defined standard. In standard usage, kalibrieren is the verb, kalibriert the past participle, and kalibrierten may appear as a nominalized form referring to calibrated items. However, the more common phrasing in technical German is kalibrierte Geräte or kalibriertes Messmittel.

In practice, calibration is the process of comparing an instrument’s readings with a reference standard of known value and making adjustments to align the instrument with that standard. The result is a calibration that documents the instrument’s measurement uncertainty and often includes a calibration certificate. The certificate records the reference, the applied adjustments (if any), the environmental conditions, the date, and the recalibration interval.

Calibration is essential for traceability, quality control, and regulatory compliance. It supports confidence in measurement results across industries such as manufacturing, laboratories, healthcare, and research. Standards bodies provide frameworks for calibration management, with ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 9001 being commonly referenced in laboratories and quality systems.

Typical elements of a calibration workflow include selecting an appropriate reference standard, maintaining controlled conditions, conducting measurements, performing data analysis, applying adjustments if required, documenting results, labeling calibrated instruments, and setting an interval for recalibration.

Notes: Calibration is related to, but distinct from, certification and verification. It does not guarantee perfect accuracy indefinitely; devices drift over time and require periodic recalibration to maintain stated performance. See also calibration certificate, traceability, measurement uncertainty, and metrology.