ptguru's podcast: Recent Episodes
Kevin Radzik
In this podcast, we talk about concepts in metrology and measurement. We focus on calibration and measurement uncertainty.
Sometimes we have a measurement that is not as simple as we wish it were. In today's PodCast, we discuss this conundrum and some ways to tackle the problem.
Testing and calibration are alive and well in our Amazon fueled retail world of today. Want to sell a product on Amazon, find out about what they are going to require before you do.
With the holiday season upon us, it seemed like the perfect time of year to answer the question, why am I cold? You have the thermostat set at 68 or 70ºF and yet you are freezing. Here's a hint, it has to do with the energy in the air, which has more to do with it than just temperature.
Turkey, in a calibration PodCast? Yep, it is that time of year and time to share a little measurement science about the big ol' bird we all love to feast on.
Had a fun little PID tuning event this week, so I figured I'd share my experience with everyone.
IR temperature guns are being used everywhere today, and for a good reason. They are inexpensive and eliminate errors associated with measuring surfaces. Unfortunately, they also introduce errors that need to be understood by the end user to ensure quality measurements.
The field of metrology, like all scientific fields, is loaded with constants. These are important to be aware of, and it is also to be aware that constants aren't always, so, well, constant.
Calibration jobs are out there everywhere. The problem is that we don't have near enough folks to fill the positions that are available. If you're interested in all of the things we talk about and your not a technician, this just might be the podcast for you!!
Math is pure and beautiful. Statistics is a branch of math that can be a little fuzzy but are completely necessary to understand measurement concepts. The study of statistics is a core competency of measurement science, and nothing irks me then why the fine folks out there in journalism get a hold of numbers and find ways to try to make sure you don't sleep at night.
With the transition to the ISO calibration standard 17025 moving to its newest revision, how will customers of calibration services be impacted?
Sometimes we don't have the budget to buy the newest calibration toy for a given situation and we need to improvise. I want you to get creative when the need arises, and today I give you a couple of suggestions about how to do exactly that.
I know this one might sound crazy, but why do we pronounce the "meter" in the word thermometer differently than we do in the word multimeter? Well, it's all about the "O."
Recently, I purchased some RTDs for a project only to receive them in bags marked thermocouples. So many people use the term thermocouple when they mean temperature probe, and this can lead to a lot of confusion for us control type folks.
Everywhere I turn I see more and more calibration happening. It's a function of our modern world of outsourcing and suppliers and it is not going away. In fact, it just seems to be growing at an exponential pace. How did it evolve this way, and why?
On a recent trip to Alexandria, VA is really managed to have my eyes opened to the amazing amount of testing that happens out there in ISO 17025 world. I've always thought of the standard as one that revolves around calibration, but there is so much more.
We all know that miles to "E" thingy on our dashboard lies to us, but by how much. Today, I share my experience with an experiment I did a while back on this topic.
Process improvement is super critical, but are you losing the forest because you are focused on the trees? This is where risk management really comes into play. Assessing risk is a key part of process improvement, and together they work as a synergistic pair to make amazing things happen.
Accreditation bodies need a standard to work within too. That standard is ISO 17011, and guess what it has been recently revised like so many of the other 170xx standards that we handle these days. What's new? Listen and find out more.
Every wonder why we measure time like we do? How did clocks develop? Why are there 12, 60 minute hours?
Want the best possible education is what is really required for your field, get accredited. When you call in the experts to look over what you do and ask them to give you that certificate that says they have confidence that you know what you are doing, you are going to go through a process that raises your game to a whole new level.
Quality Toolkit Thursday, how about a great way to prioritize your plans, try on a decision matrix for size.
I've told you to calibrate your kitchen thermometer more than once, today I tell you how. Join me for a quick method to provide yourself with the peace of mind that your kitchen thermometer is reading properly.
Good decision making in the world of quality revolves around understanding risk tolerance because, without it, risk management is meaningless.
Living on the operations side of calibration is a daunting task. One part tactician and two parts scheduling ninja are entry requirements. Today, I share a few tips to help you with your process flow.
Sometimes Gage R&R can be a bit of a mystery to some folks. What is it? What is it all about? For this Quality Toolkit Thursday, we take a look at the importance of repeatability and reproducibility to any measurement system.
Sometimes something like accreditation sounds like a good idea on the surface, but the truth is you want it for the wrong reasons. If you want to be an accredited laboratory, you should make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.
I've had some questions from folks after they've seen the CCT (Certified Calibration Technician) video about a certification they don't have to wait as long to get. Well, look no further than the CQI, or Certified Quality Inspector program. This will get you an ASQ certification after only two years experience and is a great stepping stone to understanding what it takes to get certified, and eventually become a CCT.
Calibration is not a rotisserie chicken, unfortunately, you can just set it and forget it. There are a number of pieces to the puzzle and they all need to fit together for the system to work the way it was intended.
Measuring wind speed is a challenge at best. Measuring it accurately is an absolute feat. When the measurement itself is a disturbance to the system, things get tricky.
Bet you've been looking for that turn-key, all-in-one, calibration software package. Guess what you're not likely to find it unless you have a pretty narrow scope of activities. There are a large number of calibration software packages out there, serving various needs. Today we talk about some of those.
With the transition to ISO 9001:2015 and all of the other standards that surround it, it seemed like a good time to remind everyone that calibration is an ideal example of risk management.
The single most prestigious award you can obtain for quality in the US is the Malcolm Baldrige. What exactly goes into this award and what is the framework to even attempt to participate?
I've received a number of questions lately about what I mean when I say testing as it relates to calibration and ISO 17025. This is a great question and I thought today was a perfect day to elaborate on the subject.
The metrology of cops and robbers is as old as time. How does a simple little device that emits a harmless radio wave strike fear in the hearts of grown men? It's called the Doppler effect, even if you don't know it by name, I promise you, you've seen it in action.
Why is it cold inside in the winter and hot inside in the summer when we have the thermostat set for the same temperature? The answer is humidity, but not like you probably think.
I've fielded a number of questions lately about what is actually supposed to be on a calibration certificate. Unfortunately, there is no absolutely clear answer to this question. However, we can have a look at the ISO standard for calibration, and see what it calls the minimum requirement for calibration certificates.
I've been in love with learning since I was a child, and think you should be too. Learning is the key to growth professionally and personally. In this weekend edition of the podcast I talk about just how important learning is for everyone.
In the world of measurement, things aren't as black and white as you probably think they are. Every measurement is surrounded by a grey area. So what happens when that grey area overlaps a specification or tolerance?
One of the key parts of any improvement process is coming up with ideas to make things better. Brainstorming is a major part of the process, but have you ever really put any thought into going about it. Most people have a tendency to let their filters take over and block what could be some of the best ideas they have.
I can't stress the fact that calibration and adjustment are two completely different things. Calibration itself is about establishing metrological traceability. Today, we talk about what the two terms actually mean.
Spoons into cups, what kind of spoon? How many little spoons in a big spoon? We dive into some measurements in the kitchen once again and look at where all these crazy things come from and why they are the way they are.
Why do we use all of these different words to represent multipliers for units? Why not just use the base unit with a few extra zeros? Because we would need a lot more than a few extra zeros.
Where does calibration even come from? You'd likely be amazed to think back to a time when measurements weren't standardized. The length of a foot in your village might be different than a foot in the next town over. Let's look at how we arrived at where we are today.
Sometimes I'm known to get a little too heavy into things. I thought it might be fun to really build some of the groundwork for the foundation of a solid understanding of calibration. If you're a noob or think you know whats going on in metrology, this one is a good place to start. This will build your calibration foundation or possibly fill in a few cracks in your existing structure.
Waste is present in any process or project. The question then becomes, how much waste is too much waste? Six Sigma gives us a framework to look at and identify waste in a process. Today we look at the classification of waste into 7 different categories and even an eighth that is sometimes used.
Sports and metrology really do go hand in hand. There is no better place to look to ensure a level playing field for fair competition. This is where metrology comes in and with the World Cup in full swing, seems like a great time to talk about metrology in soccer.
I can barely believe it has been 100 episodes already. Are you ready for this? This is the 100th episode of the PT Guru PodCast!!
We've all been there, new equipment purchase time. So what do we choose? How do we choose it? We definitely have some decisions to make. In this special weekend edition of the podcast on video, I share some of my tips on making these decisions.
You may have seen 3D printing in the consumer space, but that's not all its good for. 3D printing has proven revolutionary in the manufacturing space an is getting better every day.
Quality Toolkit Thursday!! 5S is a great way to organize any space, step outside the box and think about what you use and why you have the things you never use sitting there. Word of caution here though, maintenance is key, and the one place where 5S programs typically fall apart.
Fun one for an equipment Wednesday, breathalyzers. Calibration, accuracy, whats under the hood.
As I've told you before the world of measurement and metrology completely surrounds us. It even hits us right in our pocket. The number of measurements happening in your pocket is nothing short of amazing. Yep, I'm talking about your cell phone and I bet you've never realized how much stuff is going on in there!!
So, you think you know calibration. You think you know all the rules, and what it really means. Today, I'm going to give you the five most common things I find when people think they really know calibration.
In industries the involve compliance most folks love to use fear as a tool to force people to comply with their interpretation of the standards. Sometimes there are better ways to think about things and still maintain or even improve compliance. In this weekend edition of the PodCast, we look at fear and alternatives.
My career in electronics really started here. A small wooden box with electronic components mounted in it, and a stack of wires to hook them all together.
Do you need a better way to organize a project? Don't know where to start? A Gantt chart might be the solution for you. Find out more in this Quality Toolkit Thursday edition of the podcast.
We trust our physicians with our lives, so they need to trust the tools they use for diagnosis. Calibration and metrology are everywhere in the medical profession and for good reason.
So we've talked thermocouples before. In this episode, we break down thermocouples into their two most common categories and discuss the differences and the benefits and drawbacks of the two types and how to deal with them.
Confidentiality is a key concept in modern-day business. As a third-party data provider, it can be tough to know where to draw the line. In today's podcast, I share some of my own opinions on the subject.
Are you getting all that you can out of social media? For folks in niche industries, social media can be a godsend. The ability to find like-minded professionals is a great way to improve your knowledge level and grow your skill level.
It often amazes me when I see how many folks in the world of calibration have chosen to try to just go it alone. This, as you could imagine is a pretty tough way to take on these challenges, especially when you don't need to. The metrology community is an active unit the loves the exchange of information.
A Kaizen event is an amazing way to pay big dividends without minimal effort. Find out more in this episode of the PodCast!!
I've been asked by people on a number of occasions why a calibration lab would use oil to perform calibrations? There are a number of reasons, in this edition of the podcast we look at those reasons.
Ever wonder how a microwave oven makes food how without...heat? In today's PodCast we'll talk about that and why the microwave popcorn can mess with your Netflix and chill.
Are you interested in becoming a calibration technician? It might be harder than you think.
I've had a number of conversations over the years where people seem to think some new technology will somehow remove the need for calibration. Fact is the people that tend to say things like this just don't seem to understand what the word calibration is referring to under these circumstances, let alone the importance of traceability to the over all picture.
Do you really know how to tell if your getting accredited calibration certificates? In this episode, I break down the simple ways to identify an accredited calibration certificate.
Corrective action is a key part of any good QMS, Quality Management System. CAPA is the concept of Corrective and Preventative Action. It was born out of the CFRs and has been adopted by other industries to look at processes not just from the standpoint of fixing a problem, but also to identify and correct potential problems.
So the ASTM standard for load cells has changed again. In today's PodCast, we talk about those changes and what they mean to you.
Being a practitioner is about more than just doing the work. It's about sinking your heart and soul into the work and taking things to a different level.
There is an entire branch of metrology that not even most calibration folks are familiar with. It goes as an unseen, unknown entity in the universe of calibration called legal metrology. In this edition of the podcast, we dive into what that means, and where it lives.
If you aren't using an ISO 17025 accredited calibration provider, you need to keep some things in mind. Today, let's get a little perspective.
One of the best illustrations of real-world measurement is the attempt to measure a piece of string. In today's edition of the PodCast, we dive deep into the challenges associated with performing this type of measurement.
Quality toolkit Thursday once again!! Today we are talking about the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle.
Soldering irons are not what they used to be, but what do they have to do with measurement and metrology? Well everything, in this day and age. In this equipment Wednesday edition of the PodCast, I tell you why temperature is critical.
With all the different household light sources available today, how can a 13 watt CFL really be the same as a 60-watt incandescent light bulb? In today's PodCast, we discuss the measurements that go into deciphering this idea.
Happy Memorial Day everybody!! For this edition of the PodCast, also on YouTube, I answer the age-old question. Why Calibrate?
Thinking about getting accredited to ISO 17025, or are you just trying to comply with the standard. In today's PodCast, I tell you the top three places where I've seen issues with the folks I try to help.
MS Excel has become the "go-to" tool for quality folks looking for some basic statistical calculations. There are e few things you should keep in mind though because Excel does some things you might not realize.
In industry, an old comm protocol still lurks. It goes by many names given to it by various manufacturers, but the truth is, it is just good old RS-232. In today's PodCast, I talk a bit about it.
I can think of no better match between metrology and food than sous vide cooking. This process of cooking at low temperatures using a vacuum sealed bag continue to grow in popularity. In today's PodCast, we have a look at how it all works.
Sometimes assessors and auditors are just plain wrong. Should you argue? Should you disagree? Should you just shut up and take it. In today's edition of the PodCast, we get into this touchy subject.
A little off topic this weekend. Instead of our normal measurement topics, I'm talking business and personal branding. Check it out on YouTube too, rate and like. Thank you, for listening!!
The truth is that the world of calibration can be a crazy one, but if you just focus on building relationships everything will be just fine.
My favourite quality tool by far is the histogram. In this edition of the PodCast, I talk about how a histogram works and why they are such valuable tools.
In today's PodCast I reminisce about an old friend of mine, the paper chart recorder and how it has been replaced by data acquisition systems.
Just another little rant from the kitchen of a metrologist who also happens to be a foodie.
Coming up with a new measurement can be a challenge. In today's episode, I talk about some starting points to get you up and measuring fast.
Do you manage an in-house calibration program? I have a number of times, today we look at some of the challenges of doing so.
There are a large number of quality tools out there to help solve problems. In today's PodCast, I talk about the big seven in the world of quality for a Quality Tool Time Thursday.
Staying safe in an enclosed environment can be a challenge. One of the best tools to help someone stay safe is a personal gas monitor. Today, I talk some of the things these devices monitor, and what they mean.
In today's edition of the PodCast, we look at some places where a little metrology know how can improve measurements in the home.
We are not talking about your most valuable player here today. In the technology world, MVP means minimum viable product. Today I discuss a strategy that many calibration labs use to bring a product to market.
Sometimes a calibration lab is faced with instrumentation that is used to protect lives. Today, I talk about some of those items and why they should be looked at well beyond calibration.
Quality tool time!! The process map is a vital instrument in anybody's quality toolkit. In today's PodCast, I lay out all the steps to create one and give you some basics about the issues that a process map can reveal.
The timing instrument of choice in many situations is the tried and true stopwatch. Today, I talk about them and describe a couple of easy calibration methods that you can use to perform these calibrations yourself. Do try this at home!!
Ever wonder how you oven actually controls temperature? This is one of the core concepts in process control. We refer to it as on/off control. In today's edition of the PodCast, we discuss some core elements of process control.
Did you know a large number of calibration providers offer different service levels, and frequently only quote you the cheapest option? Today, I talk about the different service levels I've seen frequently in the marketplace and break them down so you know what they mean.
How about a little metrological motivation for this edition of the PodCast. I also talk about whats been going on this week.
The reduction of measurement uncertainty is an important goal of most metrologists. Today, we take a look at how the process works, and how to get started.
As an introvert and a technical person, talking to customers has always been an incredible challenge to me. Today, I talk about the struggle, and ways you can overcome it, and how important it is for you to overcome it.
Performing current measurements can be a little tricky. In today's PodCast, I talk about a couple of different methods and their advantages and shortcomings.
Next time you're in your kitchen, look around and you will find metrology everywhere. The kitchen is the most measurement rich room in the house, today I talk about making one of those measurements better.
Probabilities are a key part of statistics, but sometimes everything is not what it seems to be. Today, we examine an interesting situation referred to as the Monty Hall Problem or Paradox.
Do you run a calibration lab? Are you curious as to the challenges of day to day operations in a cal lab? Today I talk about some of the challenges of running a calibration lab and the tightrope you are constantly walking.
There is something to be said for professional experience. In a would of Google and YouTube it is pretty easy for everyone to think they are an expert, but some things you just can't get without the experience.
Monte Carlo simulations are amazing tools to use a set of variables to predict the behaviour of a system. Today, I talk about a simple example to estimate the value of pi using this method.
Ever wonder what the most accurate thing that we as human beings can measure? I'll give you a hint, it is the only limiting factor in life. In today's PodCast, I answer this question and talk about the equipment that you could be using to hold this crazy level of precision in your hand.
You've heard that the US is one of only three countries in the world that hasn't adopted the metric system, but how true is that statement. In today's PodCast, we dig into the subject a bit.
Resolution can be an enormous driver of uncertainty in certain calibrations where the resolution and tolerance of an instrument are very close to one and other. The slew method turns the measurement around to remove the resolution of the UUT as a contributing factor to the uncertainty.
Are you interested in what you need to know to become an ASQ Certified Calibration Technician, or just what a tech needs to know to pass the exam? Today we do a deep dive into what is involved in becoming an ASQ CCT.
Who watches the watchmen? ILAC is the organization that accredits the accreditation bodies the world over. Today we have a brief discussion of who they are and what they do.
Need a quality tool for root cause analysis? The 5 Why is a super simple tool that can get you to a root cause quickly. In today's PodCast, I tell ya how it's done.
Do you use an IR thermometer for temperature measurements? Today I examine how to properly use these convenient devices properly because there are a few more things going on than meets the eye.
Today, we focus on how an end user of calibration services should be using the measurement uncertainty reported on their certificates. Don't just ignore that number, understand it, and how to use it to make your measurements better.
Understanding instrument tolerances can be a complex process. In today's PodCast, I talk about the different ways that instrument acceptance criteria are typically laid out and how to interpret them.
Start with the measurements you need and work back from there to ensure that you are getting the calibration you require. In this weekend edition of the PodCast, I try to get you to focus on the equipment you are using for measurements and how it gets calibrated.
Ever wonder how calibration methods are chosen or established? In today's episode, I talk about use and development of calibration methods for a laboratory.
Are you considering all the elements in your signal chain when you look at calibration? If not you could have a breakdown in traceability. In today's PodCast, we dive into some things you should be considering when you have just a portion of you measurement signal chain calibrated.
Ever wonder how measurements get into a computer-based control system, the answer my friend is transducers, and today I'm going to tell you about them.
No, you don't need to calibrate everything. Today we go over a basic list of rules to help you decide what to calibrate and what not to.
Do you want to reduce the uncertainty of measurement for a calibration? Using drift to thoroughly understand your measurement system can be a key piece in understanding what is really going on with your measurement.
Want to save money but moving your calibrations in-house? Today I look at the arguments for and against, and give you some thoughts on how to handle a few things.
Remember in grade school when the math teacher told you to show your work on your homework. Well, that's what an uncertainty budget is. Today I tell you about uncertainty budgets, what they mean, what they look like, and why they are essential in proper measurement.
Are you considering everything that goes into your measurements? Today we look at some day to day examples of influences of external effects on common measurements.
Different types of liquid flow meters are intended to produce different measurements under varying circumstances. Today I talk about some of the most common.
Variance in gravity is a real concern in metrology. Did you know the acceleration of gravity on earth varies by 0.7%? I know that number sounds small, but gravity is a key component of measurements that can be several orders of magnitude smaller than that. Today I talk about how to handle these issues.
Checking your measurement equipment between calibrations gives you the ability to extend calibration cycles, and improve the chances that thing won't be out of tolerance when they are calibrated.
How often should you calibrate your equipment? That's a great question, too bad there is no easy answer here. Today, I want to get you thinking about your calibration cycle times.
Mercury thermometers are still in wide-ranging use in the world of measurement. Today we talk about why, and some precautions we should consider when using this oldest form of the thermometer.
Figuring out where to start with measurement uncertainty can be a major challenge. Today, I talk about where to start.
ISO 17025 accreditation is an important step in the evolution of a calibration laboratory. Today we look at the process of becoming accredited.
Risk Management has become a quality buzzword in recent years, for this weekend edition, I give you a high-level view of the concepts involved in risk management.
Guard Banding is a technique used to handle measurements that border on the edges of tolerance. Today I discuss what it means, and how calibration labs deal with it.
Today I share a calibration horror story about a pharmaceutical company that had some issues with rescue inhalers.
Current clamp meters are an all in one device that have enjoyed growing popularity in recent years. Today I talk about what they are and why they are so useful.
The new Fixed-Length-Optical-Cavity from NIST is the first real revolution is pressure measurement in generations. Today we discuss what it is and how it works
Proper selection of a calibration standard is vital in performing calibration. For this weekend edition of the podcast, I discuss several things you should keep in mind before you attempt to make any measurements.
Metrology is the field of science that underlays measurement. Today we talk about what a metrologist is, and how you can become one.
The Probability of False Acceptance is a key component of ANSI Z540.3. Today I discuss some methods to meet this requirement.
Multimeters can go by a number of different names. VOM, DVM, Fluke Meter, Electrical Meter, but when it comes down to it, we are looking at a family of handy devices. Today I discuss what they are and even give you some basics on how to calibrate them.
Read you calibration quote! Read any quote for services you receive, but read your calibration quote even more closely. There might be things in there that you aren't aware of.
Decision rules are used to quantify how measurement uncertainty is used in comparing a measurement to a tolerance. The way these rules are applied is changing in ISO 17025:2017, so you need to educate yourself to make informed decisions.
For this special weekend edition, I talk about the historical cubit and why it is an excellent demonstration of why traceability is essential.
Today we have a look at uncertainty associated with correction factors and why it is an important factor to consider in measurement uncertainty.
Today we answer a question/comment from a listener as to why manufacturer's specs aren't the only thing you should be looking for in calibration.
Today I give you some tips for choosing a calibration provider to meet your calibration needs.
Today we talk about website updates, my LinkedIn page, and then dive in deep to explain what CMC's on a scope of accreditation are and what they mean.
This weekend we review what I talked about during the week. I give you some updates on the website and other social media, and we discuss 4:1 ratios in depth, their history and how we come up with them.
Today we look a number of different places where measurement is critical, and you probably didn't even think about it.
Today we talk about the changes to ISO 17025 for the 2017 edition of the international standard for calibration and testing laboratories
Today we talk about why temperature is a vital part of performing proper dimensional measurements.
Today we talk about some new things in PT Guru world, and why your calibration PO is one of the most important parts of your calibration program.
Kicking off the weekend version of the PodCast with a discussion of the word "metrology"
Today we talk about the concept of measurement uncertainty in the world of calibration.
Today I talk about what ISO 17025 is and why it's so important for calibration laboratories.