ASTM E898: Upgrade to a New Level of Quality

The New ASTM E898-20 Standard Practice for Calibration of Balances and Scales

Build Your Weighing Quality Management System on a Solid Foundation

ASTM International has released a new standard practice that provides guidelines for testing and calibration across the lifespan of a balance or scale. This standard practice builds on the base of EURAMET cg-18, but it gives clearer descriptions of the calibration procedures and contains a section with essential definitions that helps the user understand the purpose and execution of a calibration.

Compliance with this standard practice can help businesses achieve the goals of their weighing quality programs and increase profitability while reducing risks. Following the standard can also make suppliers more marketable to their customers who may prefer their business partners to conform to ASTM standards.

As a contributing member of the ASTM subcommittee, METTLER TOLEDO used our industry-leading expertise in the science of weighing to ensure this new standard contributes to a robust weighing quality management program. Our expertise in weighing and calibration as well as our detailed knowledge of this standard make us the perfect partner to assist in compliance.

How Compliance Improves Weighing Quality

Chapter 4 of the new ASTM standard practice, called "Significance and Use," provides clear guidance for calibration procedures as well as best practices for the interpretation of calibration results and the implementation of periodic performance verification.

METTLER TOLEDO offers professional services that are fully in line with the new standard practice and will allow businesses to comply with all the requirements and recommendations in Chapter 4 of ASTM E898-20 as follows:

ASTM E898-20 Chapter 4.1

ASTM Guidelines
Calibration requires a statement of measurement uncertainty estimated for every measurement point, thus reinforcing that a measurement without a statement of uncertainty is not a calibration.

Our Solution
METTTLER TOLEDO offers the ISO17025 Accredited Accuracy Calibration Certificate (ACC), which includes a statement of measurement uncertainty at every measurement point to satisfy calibration procedure requirements. Additionally, it provides the so-called measurement uncertainty in use, which allows the user to determine measurement uncertainty at any indication throughout the entire weighing range during the day-to-day usage of the instrument.

Why it Matters
This certificate shows how accurately a device performs on-site. Every measurement has some amount of uncertainty. The Accredited ACC allows quantification of that uncertainty. This is the first step in using calibration information to improve weighing process quality.

ASTM E898-20 Chapter 4.2

ASTM Guidelines
Calibration results allow the user to evaluate a device's fitness for purpose by comparing the estimated measurement uncertainty to the user's desired process tolerance for the particular weighing application.

Our Solution
METTTLER TOLEDO offers the GWP^® Certificate as an annex to the ISO 17025 Accredited ACC. This provides a pass / fail statement against the customer's own process requirements.

Why it Matters
Confirm the scale or balance meets your process requirements and is therefore accurate enough for your needs. By assessing against these requirements, a customer can increase product quality and consistency, raise profitability, and ensure compliance with internal and external quality systems.

ASTM E898-20 Chapter 4.3

ASTM Guidelines
Periodic performance verification between calibrations is recommended to maintain fitness for purpose over time and to aid in compliance with quality standards or regulations.

Our Solution
METTTLER TOLEDO offers the GWP^® Verification, which establishes a risk-based calibration and routine testing plan. This plan includes:

Calibration & Testing frequency
Routine testing methods
Routine testing weights & tolerances
Audit-proof documentation

Why it Matters
Device performance changes over time. Ensure the scale or balance continues to meet your process requirements throughout its lifetime with a risk-based calibration and routine testing plan.

What is ASTM International?

ASTM International is one of the most influential technology standards companies in the U.S. and around the world, bringing industry and government stakeholders together for more than 115 years. They publish more than 12,000 standards each year for about 150 major global industries, and half of these standards are distributed outside the U.S.

For more information about ASTM International, visit www.astm.org.

What is Good Weighing Practice™?

Good Weighing Practice™ (GWP®) is a global standard that ensures consistent accuracy, quality and compliance in any weighing process. It is a standardized methodology for the secure selection, calibration and operation of balances or scales, and it is applicable to new or existing weighing devices from any manufacturer in any industry or workplace.

Want to learn more about the services METTLER TOLEDO offers as part of the Good Weighing Practice program? Visit www.mt.com/GWP.

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